Fire would be very painful. I love the water, but don't like the idea of drowning much. However, given the two I would take water over fire. Since I love the water and am a really good swimmer, I don't think I would be too scared, until right at the end when I realized I was in trouble.

You are a very good writter! I felt like I was there. I love Seattle! Don't get there as often as I should. I have 2 family members up there and really should make a better effort to visit. Maybe now I will try to focus on going that way the next time I get to go somewhere.

I am so glad it turned out to get such a great experience for you. It should make going back easy the next time you have a chance!

Good to see you back on line. Have been thinking about you!
I don't think I would want to try the online thing either. Until you are ready to move on and that seems like something you want, I would pass also. Maybe at some point you will want to, if not so be it.

Also, you might get lucky and have a great guy move into your world and you meet him some other way, you never know.

Being out west all my life I never heard about Patriots' Day. We don't have that holiday. I have been teaching my 5th grade class about the Revolution this week and will tell them about this holiday tomorrow. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

Have a great time being yourself, others will love you for it!

Great job and good progress in a short time. Dogs are great for teaching wonderful life lessons!

Mine uses the crate also. He puts himself in at bed time and also when I am leaving for work. Our older dog also did the same thing.

Keep up the great work with Ellie!

We do a crate. Just make sure it is large enough. The bigger the better. Also I agree with an obedience class. I did them though the local community college. I started with a puppy, but a number there have been there with a shelter dog. It seemed to help with the bonding and they seem to end up with a pretty good dogs. It takes time. The good thing about going with the community college is the classes are pretty cheap.

I don't like the changes here!

Boys do change faster at those ages! We had to stop and by shirts on a trip once because my oldest outgrew what he had packed. Also did new school shoes every two weeks for 6 weeks. Thank goodness we had another one that could use them a few years later.
Glad you are back!

Not sure what the above comment means, but hope it is a good thing.
Are you ok?? Hope the reason we haven't heard anything here for a while is that you are busy getting things ready so you can go.

It is amazing how much enjoyment kids can get from a caterpillar. My one son was very late getting home from school one day. My dad went looking for him. Before he left the house he looked out the kitchen window and saw him at the bottom of the hill. He was on his hands and knees and moving very slowly. Since dad knew he was safe he just watched him. By the time he got to the house he was about an hour late. When Grandpa asked him what he had been doing he was told he had been watching a caterpillar. Only a child could spend that long with a little wooly guy and love it (he was either kindergarten or first grade at the time).

Wonderful news. Glad you could put it together. I love going to Seattle, it is such a fun town! I have some family that live up there and also go to a computer conference that happens there, so get up there every few years. Hope you not only connect with others from when you lived there, as well as process your loss, but also get some time to just recharge your batteries. Have a great time!

Didn't finish 4:
my youngest son, my husband, my boss

Tagged back:
1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
Junk and then some. Some of it is mine and some has been "donated" by children that have borrowed my car. Would have been nice if it had been good stuff and would have served as payment for borrowing my car.

2. When was the last time you threw up?
Long enough ago I don't remember.

3. What's your favorite word or phrase?
Not sure. I probably have one I use.

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
My son,

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Feeding 30 kids breakfast and getting the school day started.

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Eating dinner

7. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas

Hey! What happened to #8???

9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Careful with my dog.

10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Peppermint

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Water

12. What are you wearing right now?
T-shirt and jeans.

13. What was the last thing you ate?.
Left over Chineese food

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
No

15. When was the last time you ran?
For exercise, a LONG time. For fun a couple of weeks ago playing with the dog.

16.What was the last sporting event you watched?
Basketball game


17. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Churchill Canada and see the polar bears.

18. Who is the last person Gather friend that you left a comment for?
Kori

19. Ever go camping?
Yes, but not yet this season.

20. Do you have a tan?
Some in the summer. More likely to rust right now here (has rained on and off most of the week).

21. Have you ever lost anything down a toilet?
Don't think so.

22. What color is your toothbrush?
Purple and white

23. Do you use smiley faces on the computer a lot?
No

24. Do you drink your pop from a straw?
Depends. From a paper take out cup, yes. At home, no. Don't mind the can a bit.

25. What did your last text message say?
One from my son about a phone number question.

26. Are you someone's best friend?
I think so.

27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Taking a therapy dog test (with the dog of course) and then leaving for spring break in the afternoon. Have to be to the airport by mid day.

28. Where is your mom right now?
At her house.

29. Look to your left, what do you see?
My husband working on his computer.

30. What color is your watch?
Dark blue band (a digital with 3 alarms)

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia?
All the neat animals there. I would love to visit.

32. Ever ridden on a roller coaster?
Yes, as often as possible. Love the triple loop ones. Do want a foot rest under my feet. I don't like the newer ones that "dangle" you in the air.

33. What is your birthstone?
Emerald

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Either. Most times if I do fast food it is for the fast part and we grab and go.

35. Do you have any connections on Gather that you actually hate?
Don't have my own page

36. Do you have a dog?
Two. One old one that is 14 1/2 and blind and deaf. Sweet dog and so he is still with us for a bit more time. A "pup" that is now 3 years old and working on thearpy dog testing tomorrow. Also one cat (I know that was not part of the question, but he is just as much a part of the family).


37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
My youngest son

38. Have you met anyone famous?
Lawarence Welk, Larry Steele (basketball player)

39. Any plans today?
Finish getting ready for tomorrow.

41. Ever go to college?
Yes

42. Where are you right now?
At home after work.

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
One of my kids.

44. Last song listened to?
What ever some place had on their sound system when I had to wait there. Think it was country.

45. Last movie you saw?
Harry Potter

46. Are you allergic to anything?
A bunch of meds and then about 25 foods. I say I am the allergy queen.

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Winter: Merrels
Summer: Keens

48.Are you jealous of anyone?
Probably anyone skinny!

49. Are you married?
Yes, 28 plus years.

50. Is anyone jealous of you?
Who knows.

51. What time is it?
7:30 ish

52. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes, most do.

53. Do you eat healthy?
Sometimes. Depends on the mood I am in.

54. What do you usually do during the day?
Try to stay ahead of 30 kids.

55. Do you hate anyone right now?
Hate to admit it, but yes.

56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
Yes, or howdy

57. How many kids do you want when you're older?
I already have four and 5 grandkids.

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
51


59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Nope, but I have done most of the others types. Disney, Knotts, Universal, Edmonton, Sea Word etc.


60. How did you get one of your scars?
Chased by a St. Bernard dog and fell on the log bridge. He was bigger than I was (I was about 6 or 7 years old) and with all that drool I thought he was dangerous (Guess he wasn't since when I fell he about licked me to death).

****Tag... you're it!!! If you just read this, please copy and paste the questions into a new article and answer the questions. Or leave your answers here :) or both

I hope he was ok, and not needing help.
In our town there are ton of 4 way stop signs. Every once in a while my dad would stop at the wrong corner (better than going at a stop corner). I see it happen now and then with others too. Nomally it is only for a few seconds (sometimes less than a real stop if they realize they are at the wrong corner for stopping). Makes me wonder if he sat that long is something else was wrong. Hope not.

A friend of mine calls those guys "slot machines" pretty funny name for the pants saggers!

As my husband says, pick your battles. Not all are worth the effort and won't really matter in the long run. I have to be remided of this from time to time.

I don't remember feeling that way so much when they were younger, but I sure do now with them being older. I am ready to send them a one way ticket to some place far away!

Enjoy them when they are little. He sounds so cute!

So funny. I can picture it. My oldest has a law enforcement degree and is military police. My next one does security work (and is only 21, and 260, you wouldn't want to meet him on the wrong side--no heavy just that big~!) So with that background I could really get a laugh out of it.

My 19 mo. grand daughter blows kisses as does my 22 mo. old grandson. They are so cute at this age. My 25 year old was a ladies man as a toddler, the ladies out and about loved him. Didn't last. His is my only one that is totally single (and not to sad about it either).

So true. My kids talk about the things we did as a family, not the things they were bought growing up. Experiences are what are remembered. The Somores and cooking over a fire, not a expensive steak (which they would not have eaten anyway). You are providing the things they will remember and which matter. You go girl!!!


We are going to try to teach Autumn sign as well. With her medical conditions she has at least a 50% chance of having hearing issues at some point in her life. Might as well start as a baby. I can sign some, so will help teach the kids some basic signs to use with her. Glad you hear you are doing it with your son.