Hi, Barb.

It's already Wednesday and I've hardly accomplished a thing this week.  The anniversary party is looming over my head but I still feel like I have all the time in the world ( I don't - less than 3 weeks) to finish up the details.  So I'm focused on putting my new family room together...but not really too motivated for that either. I'd much rather go to the movies or nap. I'm such a project pooper - I get started all gung-ho, then halfway through I just want someone else to finish :)

Nothing much going on around here. Matt turned 18 on Monday and his friends stopped by to surprise him after the family went out to dinner. He thought they all had plans and no one would be able to hang out with him. It was very sweet.  Already, though, today, he's skipping class. Not my issue, but it's bugging the shit out of me. I need to breathe.

Tomorrow I'm getting my tooth pulled so I'll be out of commission all day after that.  John leaves Monday for an extended business trip to Chicago that will end in Albany with his sister, and he won't be back home until the day before the party. D is not doing well at all; what we know at this point is that there is nothing more they can do for her and they will be sending her home probably this week.  Who knows, then, what kind of time she has left.  I imagine they will arrange some kind of hospice care and we will likely be making a trip back before Christmas.

So this weekend we'll spend finishing up the house and getting the yard as much in order as possible.  We got a little break in that JJ decided he didn't need to go to the fair this year (thank God) and is going to spend his fair money on entering a National Choir competition.  Yay!! He's very excited; I know it's a good experience for him to audition, although only 300 (maybe it was 500?) students make it.  He may be the only one from his school who even bothers to try, so I'm proud of him.  If he makes it, he will go to Chicago in the spring to sing with the National Middle School Choir. Hello! Wouldn't that be something!

Anyway, not much to report -- just wanted to say hello.  I hope all is well with you and that your schedule - school, sleeping, life in general - is smoothing out.

Love you,
A