Hi everyone!

[Mars]

It's so great coming here each day and being a part of this huge family we have created! I'm so thankful to you all for being here.

I've been reading a lot lately but not posting for various reasons - life has been full and it seems there aren't enough hours in the day anymore.

Larry has been sick for a few weeks now - winter in Ohio - cold and flu season. He is doing much better now but still the cold is sticking around for awhile.

Trisha and the boys were here for about 10 days this month. Wonderful and sad at the same time. Eddie has orders for 3 years in Germany beginning in July 2009. She will try to come home around Christmas but won't be here for Thanksgiving.

I am excited for them and selfishly sad at the same time. Germany will be an experience for them that they might otherwise not ever be able to experience but three years is a long time for our family to be separated. We will just take whatever we can until they leave!

Work is crazy, lots of learning, growing pains and just plain aggravation. It WILL GET BETTER - that's my mantra at the moment! I'm still bringing home work in the evenings to just keep up. I guess that just isn't going to change. The agency is growing and there are only so many of us in the department (two) and I have to do what I have to do as the director of the department. sigh.....................

Thanksgiving will be spent at my house for dinner with Nichole and Jordan and possibly Larry's dad. We haven't worked out those details yet - talk about procrastination! LOL We intend to have a quiet day at home.

Next month brings some time off of work - finally taking some vacation time and three personal days yet to use or lose! It will be nice to have the time off but the work will be there when I return - grrrrr. Deadlines and reports seem to take all my time these days.

I guess I am feeling a bit melancholy with the holidays. Family away or gone, economy changing the way we handle gifts and travel and just plain life in general.

I am however, thankful for friends and family, being generally healthy and the job I do have. It's great having so many friends on this board who can never cease to make me laugh on a daily basis!

I wish each of you a very safe and happy Thanksgiving! I hope you spend it with family and friends!

To Dee - I really think we should all make the popcorn turkey!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that had me laughing out loud!

Love to you all!



Mars

[tex]

Mars,

I hear you - three years is a long time to be away from home. Still, Germany beats the heck out of Afghanistan, and as you say, they will have an opportunity to grow in ways that would otherwise be out of reach.

If you've been able to evade the virus that Larry has, you're doing pretty doggone good. Most of the viruses that have been "drifting" through this part of the country, seem to be pretty potent.

Definitely take that vacation time, and enjoy it. Getting away from work for a while allows us to clear some of the clutter out of our minds, so that we can work more efficiently, afterwards.

It's great to see an update from you, and I certainly wish a safe and happy Thanksgiving for you, too.

You know, that turkey recipe does have some appeal - I love popcorn.

Love,
Tex

P S I love that line of reasoning in your signature line - it's definitely appropriate for the members of this board.

[jenilake]

Hi, Mars

You are always so positive, I don't know how you do it. I appreciate your outlook on life, it gives me hope. I really thank you for your positive outlook on life.. It has helped me many times.

Love you, Kathy P

[starfire]

I agree - Your posts are always a delight.