Mr. Bradley at CSI is building me a new computer tower. Can't wait to have Internet at home again. Blessings abound

I do not want to go home. I would like to see my husband. I would like him to come to the West Coast. However, if I go home, perhaps my kids will want me to return. Trade offs everywhere. Truly, I'm having a good time. Tomorrow my plane leaves at 1127, assuming I'm on a timely plane. Blessings abound

I'm enjoying my vacation with the kids. It's misty and rainy here in Eugene. Still, I do love seeing all the green here: ivy, lichens,more ivy,tufts of thin green grass thrusting their way through the leaf mold in the back yard. Today I found a lost ring by the chicken coop and there has been much rejoicing here at the house. A collective sigh of relief, as it were.
I had a lovely,delicious nap after dowsing with St. Anthony to find the missing jewelry. I'm actually a little surprised that it worked, and very grateful that it did.
Tomorrow is D&D with Beloved Firstborn and the group he and Fyxen play with on a regular basis. I need to draw up a level ten character for the session and have been dawdling. I'll devote some time to it after I finish browsing through Xanga. I am so happy to not be at work this week. It's some restoration that I've needed and well timed, at that.
The airline cannot find my bag. I checked it thinking it was too big for the flight in Burlington, and when I missed my connection so did my bag. Unfortunately, I can't go to Newark to dowse baggage claims, so I must wait for the airlines to come through. However, that bag contained my next to my favorite shoes, my purple cut out blouse and my favorite flannel night gown. Not to mention my favorite slouchy sweater from LL Bean. I keep thinking about not being attached to the clothes and just let things work their course. I'm sorry to say there's a journal in that bag,too. I especially hate to lose that. No state secrets in it- just writing that is precious to me. Ah, well, they're only things.
Blessings abound

So much to report! Erik's surgery went well. He had eighteen inches of large intestine removed in a six hour laparoscopic surgery. It's two weeks later and he is healing well. Very scary to have him so vulnerable. Very grateful to have him successfully through surgery on the road to recovery.
I am now on the West Coast in Eugene, Oregon with Beloved Firstborn, Fyxen and Boy Wonder. My baggage did not make it with me from Neward and that's a little disappointing. But the important thing is that I made it here safe and sound. I am loving being with my children.  It's serenity embodied as the boys play video games, Fyxen reads and the rest of the household goes about their day. I haven't been with all my kids for about a year, and I am most happy. 
My computer at home is too slow to make it onto the Internet. At some point we will replace it and I will have more frequent writing opportunities. For now I am updating where I can. I haven't be en reading other people's blogs because of the down computer. It was heartening and gratifying to read the comments wishing well for surgery. I miss the community that I find through xanga and am looking forward to resuming it as soon as able.
Sitting in the gate in Newark yesterday, after missing my connection and then arranging a flight to Portland, I was amazed at the variety of footwear traversing the corridor in front of me. A troubador in black flat heeled boots, jeans tucked into the tops, very evocative of Bob Dylan in his Blood On The Tracks days.   A young woman dressed in earth tones, full skirt billowing in her wake, her feet clad in the most exquisite gold sandals, loops of gold around her feet, encasing her ankles.   A toddler of three or so, very self possessed in Ugg boots with shaggy layers of faux fur making her look self possessed as if she knew she were destined for the runway.
I loved sitting in the airport. I was intriqued by the tide of people. I was not pleased with missed connections and hoofing it to the terminal down the road then back again to the Service Center.   At the Service Center I was attended to fairly quickly by a man who said nothing for fifteen minutes while looking for a connection to transport me from Newark to Portland.    The actions of fellow travelers, cajoling and weeping over their travel mishaps was interesting to watch. I was not as disconcerted as I thought I would be, but perhaps had the gentleman helping  not been able to get me out of town, I might have been expressing myself in similiar ways. However, as someone who deals with the public through my work, I was mindful to treat them as I would wish to be treated. So I did my best to be patient and was grateful that theirs was not my job to perform.
More later. Very content to be with family.
Blessings abound.

Things are hectic here. Erik has been in the hospital with an abdominal abcess.  He has surgery Christmas Eve Day.  Work is challenging: read SUCKS.  High point: Boy Wonder is through his next to the last semester of school Beloved Firstborn and Fyxen are to be wed before the week is out. I'm happy for them.
Keep me in your prayers. My family needs it.

Blessings abound

As a rule, I can suck it up when it comes to giving immunizations to children and every one else on the planet. But Superstitious Me hates to give immunizations to pregnant women. And guess what? I had to give both a seasonal flu vaccine and an H1N1 to a pregnant person this afternoon. Now obsessive compulsive me is so scared that something bad will happen to the baby.
BAH!

Blessings abound

CONGRATULATIONS, BELOVED FIRSTBORN AND FYXEN! THEY'RE ENGAGED!

BLESSINGS ABOUND

It would seem that my hips have recently grown, as evidenced by the measurements recently obtained in order to buy scrubs.   Suffice it to say that I will not bore you with all the details of the last ten days, not the least of which is my hippo size. Instead, a Blessings List to lift me from the muck and mire of emotion provoked by said events. Don't worry, it was a lot of little stuff, not one big thing.   So without further adieu.........

Healthy family members. Inexpensive motel rooms. Life long friends. A healthy, happy dog. The love of a good man.  Good friends. The writings of Anne Lamott. Broadband at the Fire Station. Good music. Good friends. The gardens' offerings at the end of the summer. Autumn's colors. Coffee with cream.  Tums for the heartburn caused by the onions in that open face tomato onion and cheddar sandwich.  Maple syrup. Surprises. Pleasant surprises. Odo Ban.

That's about it for now.
Blessings abound

It's been quieter in the house with Spike gone. Peaceful, though, not lacking.
Boy Wonder brought home his newish girl friend. I really liked her. Hope that's not the kiss of death to the relationship. We had a wonderful time Sunday. She's a wicked good cribbage player. And a good cook. And easy to talk with.

Hoping to go to Oregon to see Beloved Firstborn and his partner, for whom I have not made up a name yet. She is perfectly lovely and I  look forward to seeing them in January. Keep your fingers crossed.
The Chief went to the FireHouse Museum in Saratoga Springs today with the neighbors from Pagan Lane. He hasn't had a field trip in a long time and was looking forward to the trip with the faux grand kids.

Enough for now. Blessings abound

Tall pine trees stand at the edge of the yard, their smaller fir cousins stand in clusters beneath the longer branches. A grey stone, two feet high and flat on the surface stands in front of the trio of fir trees.  We laid Spike to rest in this shady sweet place he loved to sniff around when he was walking this earth. We wrapped him in his favorite zebra striped blanket and placed daisies on his still body. Gently he was carried and laid to rest by The Chief and I. A small exuberantly furred bundle of love. The shovels of dirt were replaced around him gently, as if they might disturb his slumber. The rich black dirt was shoveled then raked in the place. I shall plant shade loving bulbs in that spot this autumn, bright, vibrant colors to remember our vibrand Buddy Boo.

A few times last night I expected to see him there, under the table, lying on his bed. Or pacing and panting to go out for his evening constitutional. The Chief and I comforted each other.  We recounted stories of how hyper a puppy Spike was and how that energy was still seemingly with him, almost to the end.

Blessings abound