Hi John…

The more I write these notes the more I wonder what I actually do.  It is funny because I am busy through out the day however when I actually sit to write you it seems all so dull…or I can’t say everything that I did due to sensitive material.  Hmm.     

Morning was spent with a nice walk at the river shore with Kathy and Sophie.  It was fun catching up with Kathy.  The dogs had a doggy time.  Satori was so happy to find a dead squishy mole.  You could tell she was proud of herself.  She is always finding them.  When I returned I had to wash the dogs (mole smell and all!).  It has been weeks and Chai had been getting a bit smelly.  They are so soft now.

My big task was finally taking the time to get your Prius to the shop for an estimate on the deer damage.  I am so naive about body repair…the estimate was more than I expected.  So I gathered the needed paperwork and went to see Brenda in town about the insurance.  She was great.  We are set.  I now have to get the car to a repair place and then they will need to do a full evaluation.  I realized at my first estimate you probably never opened the hood so who knows what is damaged underneath.  Luckily the car is not needed right now.

I went grocery shopping and got Gabe from school.  I made some bread for a snack.  Then to yoga at night.  It was a good class.  Spring is definately in the air…even as the snow was falling. 

The Richmond Bridge closed today.  Now it begins.

Love you John.  ….d

Hi John…

Not sure why we keep springing forward and falling back.  Maybe there is someone who just likes to tell everyone what to do.  Think about it.  Okay all you people of the US of A tomorrow your clocks will be changed.  Just do it.  That’s it.  I’m the boss.  I wonder even if you know what time it is right now.  Imagine that. 

Tonight no pictures.  I know it is fun to see them however it is a royal pain to put them in.

Morning was spent walking dogs with the Kenney’s.  I love those walks.  Just as we were walking up the field we noticed Julie had a deer leg in her mouth.  Now that would have been a good pictures if I was thinking.  This is the same deer leg they uncovered in the cold of winter.  I kicked it far over the cliff.  So here is Julie with the hoof swinging back and forth.  It was a funny sight.  Tim had to do quite a bit of coaxing to get her to drop it.

Talked with Max today.  Well I woke him at 1:30 (more like 12:30 if that guy didn’t tell us to change the clocks!).  He made homemade seiten last night.  Didn’t you tell me you made that once?  He said it was delicious.  I told him it sounded like the Red Bamboo restaurant.  He actually made some seiten chicken wings.  He then told me Mathtew L. is visiting him.  He has had a great weekend with him.  They figured it has been about 7 years since they hung out.  I guess Matt will go on to Law school or some poli sci branch.  He has always been a good debater…just for the sake of argument.  Max made sure he showed him a good time and introduced him to some wierd friends.  Pratt is a bit different than Penn State.  I’m glad they reconnected. 

Max said Abbott will show up around Wednesday.  Then he is heading with some friends to Liam’s house near the shore for his week off.  They may make it down to Cape May.  Reptar is fine and has to wear one of those Elizabethan collars.  He seems okay with it and is not going crazy.  Maddox the cat is hyper and cute.  No other people news with him

Your parents are heading to see Sis and Phil to celebrate Phil’s 80th birthday.  Happy Birthday Phil!  I swear if I looked as good as your Dad and Phil look when I get to 80 I am only going to eat chocolate cake, chicken wings and Pepsi for all my meals.  They are amazing men.  I guess they look like that because they don’t eat that stuff.  Hey, I said “chicken wings” twice in this letter.  Maybe I will make some veggie ones soon. 

I spent some time cleaning the yard.  Yes, we can see grass in many spots.  I did some yoga just for me in the barn.  Gabe had a good day at Bolton.  Kristin joined us for dinner.  I made potatoes and veggie hot dogs.  One of Gabe’s favorites.  Along with asparagas and strawberries (not together).  Quiet rest of the night.

For some reason Gabe was mumbliing Louie Armstong’s “It’s a wonderful world”.  I love that song…who doesn’t?  I played it on You Tube for them.  Then I saw Rod Stuart sung it.  They both said “who’s Rod Stuart?”.  Hmmm.  Oh well I guess that may not be necessary to know. 

Well I’m off to sleep.  love…diane                   

Hi John…

A week ago this morning we talked for the last time.  Hope all is well with you.  We are doing just fine.

Gabe spent the day slumming with his friends at Austin’s.  He never even made it up the mountain today.  I think it was too much to get it together.  He went to Savanna’s birthday party tonight.  She is Garrett’s sister.  He said it was a good party….just hanging out (again).   

It was a sunny Spring-like day.  I took 3 walks.  The first in the early morning with the dogs.  Starting Monday it will not be pleasant to walk on our road with the extra traffic due to the bridge closure.  People will have to travel farther leading to a sense of urgency and with faster speeds.  I may have to drive the dogs to the start of the trail.  I’ll see.

My second walk was at 9:00 with Elizabeth.  It was good to reconnect again.  The last walk was at 2:00 with the dogs again on the trail down Duxbury.  It was a day to be outside and soak up some sun.

In between those times I visited with the Haddocks and made cookies for Chris C.  I wanted to thank him for his kind deed.  Just as I started to make the cookies I realized our town is being taken over with Girl Scout cookies.  I am sure his house had their fair share of sweets.  However, I had to continue since I started and I had to give some away because Gabe & I could not eat all of them.

Jen, Avery, Morgan and I went to the Liz Lerman Genome dance event at the Flynn.  Remember we got those tickets?  Well, I thought who would like to share them with me?  I thought of our dancer friend Jen.  She had already given Avery 2 tickets so we made it a foursome. 

It was interesting.  Saying that I know is not a compliment.  Modern dance is hard to figure out sometimes…like those foreign art films.  There was some cool video work and story telling.  Those aspects I really liked.
 
We went to Sakura’s for dinner beforehand..  It tasted so good.  I have not had sushi in a long time.

With more time to spare we stopped into Muddy Waters.  I saw Julia (mighty the lady) and she is mighty tall.  I think I fit under her arm.  She is beautiful and graceful.  Sorry I forgot a photo.  That would have been a nice comparison to Jen & I.

It is pouring rain right now and the mud is rising.  I have to go figure out how to close up the septic hatch.  The light is on for the first time since you have left and I know it is the rain seeping in.  I will take a look tomorrow.

I forgot to tell you that yesterday at the book sale I opened a box to put on the tables and it was full of unopened (clear wrap sealed) books on scientology.  Apparently there was another box just like that…all unopened.  I thought it was odd since we get used books.  They would not let me put them on the sci fi table (ha ha)…they had to go in the religious section.  I do beleive in aliens (given this vast universe they must exist)…its the trapings of the doctrine I have issue with.  People need structure I guess.

Good night John.  love…diane      

Hi John…

This morning was spent finishing budget, bills and other paperwork.  I also did a bunch of work on the computer.  It was a rainy day and a good time to complete some inside stuff. 

Normal school day for Gabe.  He and his posse are at The Watchman tonight.  Everyone is wondering how that comic will actually play out.  I for one have no clue about what it is…other than what I have seen with the media blitz.  He is spending the night at Austin’s.  We were talking about the horse farm.  Gabe remembered being there so often after school.  We talked about how this was the farthest he could ride his bike by himself.  Funny how you remember those mile stones.

We got the Voices Study Guide in the mail.  Bess did a great job on this, no surprise there.  That is a poor picture of Max in the center with the cast.  I have to talk to Gabe about my focus issues.

I worked the Richmond Free Library book sale tonight.  Talk about reminiscing.  The old gang was there.  You were missed.  Chris C. came in and sought me out to ask if he could go fix the license plate on the Prius.  He saw that it had been dangling since the deer encounter.  He has a screwdriver and screws just for that job.  What a sweetheart.  I feel taken care of.  I will have to bake him something to return the kind gesture. 

Here is Benjamin.  I met Benjamin at the first book sale I ever worked.  He was crawling up in the coat rafters.  I think he was bout 5 years old.  I knew then I would like this family.  Max and he became good friends, as did Tyler and Sam.
  

Okay, in the second box I opened to sort through I found the book you were looking for.  I had to buy it for you.  This was probably the same book I gave away years ago.  The Ginger Beer recipe is in it.  You will have to make some this Spring.  Rest assured I did not give away any of your books.  I did take in a small box from the hallway book shelf.  I brought home less…score.
 

This one is for Max.

I could not resist this 1966 classic. 

That wraps up my day.  I am off to watch some random dvd in the house.  I have not decided on one yet.

We love you and miss you.   love…d