I am so sorry to hear the news Copago. You are in my thoughts. If your Italian girl did not panic and was helpful to you, count your blessings that she was there when you needed her.

BurgGurl - thank you for being so strong. Please thank your husband when you speak to him. All of you amaze me every day. My thoughts are with you.

So sorry to hear of your loss, Copago. I am keeping you all in my thoughts.

BurgGurl, I am sorry you're going through such difficult times. Hope your husband returns safe and sooner than expected.

Thanks so much everyone for your kind words. I am so glad to know that I have friends here! Things here are quiet, I haven't heard from my husband yet but as the saying goes - no news is good news. I guess I just miss hearing his voice. I know that he'll be in Kuwait for a few weeks before entering into Iraq so that could be why I haven't heard from him. So that will still be my low.

In the meantime my high to report is that I am keeping busy, yesterday I provided snacks for over 20 children in my son's second grade class so I made fruit kebabs and delivered those. After some light shopping I had lunch with a girlfriend and unexpectedly came across a cocker spaniel running loose here on the streets. I collected her and took her to our local vet clinic, we were able to detect a microchip in her, however her owners never registered with the company. The vet's office had no available kennels so I brought her home with me, that was tricky as I have three cats at home! This little dog also had a rabies tag and I tracked her owners down through the office who tagged her and turned out Lucy's family live only a block up the street from me! Unfortunately, my son returned home from school before I could deliver her so he got all excited that I had gotten him a dog! At bedtime last night he said he planned on dreaming about having a puppy - I told him to keep dreaming! Today I will be cleaning the car upholstery...

Oh dear BG it seems you will soon be the proud owner of a puppy. Keeping busy always helps to pass the time. Hope you hear from your hubby soon.

Hats off to you BG, a brave and positive lady!

Chiming in again to report I have spoken with my husband! Clint called me a just a few moments ago from Kuwait and he says that he is doing well. They are living a tent city and are sleeping on cots in 100 person tents. He is anxious to get to his next station so that he can get settled in but it will be a few weeks before he arrives in Iraq. In the meantime he's been training and getting useful information he'll need for when his primary arrives in country. He reports that he has treated himself to an Earl Grey tea from Starbucks, which is such an odd thing to hear given his location, but I am grateful for the small comforts afforded them there, it's the least I could hope for for all of them.

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers, I appreciate them.

That is wonderful, BurgGurl, I am so happy for you. Those small comforts we take for granted are huge and it must have been comforting for you also to hear about the 'Earl Grey treat'!

I bet that did just make your day, BG! How great it must have been to hear his voice. Glad to know that he's getting settled and all's well.

High today, I'm now writing this on a brand new laptop. I got it last week when the other one (10 years old) had almost had it, but only hooked this one up at my weekend HQ when I got here and got someone to instal the modem for me. As well as the speed I can also watch video streaming at last and you can't beat playing with a new toy.

High of the week is that there were a few good days at work. On friday, one of my old managers came in to help and he is fast! By the time I left, they were done packaging and ready to start production, which hasn't happened in months. And my friend is well again, so I get to see him tonight. The low is my dog is sick and I've got yet another cold sore. Oh well.
Have a good week everyone!

High point of the weekend was that a heretofore not-even-there (at least 5 days ago it wasn't) nest on my porch now has TWO little blue eggs in it - and a mostly less-than-cordial mother protecting it/them like a little feathered bulldozer. I tell ya! These animals work fast out in nature!

Low point? Can eggs freeze, I wonder? It was very windy and cold here this weekend and I was a tad concerned that the nest would blow down (or ice over). Wild animals are mighty smart & instinctive architects, too, it seems. A multi-cell tornado couldn't disrupt that nest since she placed it very strategically. And, considering her hyper/vulture-like nature, I suspect mama bird works up enough body heat to keep the bulk of the Yukon livably warm...

Low point - My piano teacher has just been informed by the Australian Musical Examinations Board that my piano exam is Next tuesday. I'm not ready yet, and I need more than a week.

!!! Panic!

Oh lioness that is awful but I'm sure you will do your best and get a good result.

High for the week...I've found a piece that can replace the one that I'm panicking about. It's only played with one hand (the left) but musically it is difficult. That shouldn't be much of a problem though.

Sorry to hear of your loss Copago. Eighty-eight is a very good innings in life, which few of us are likely to achieve, but the loss of a parent still hurts.
As others have said BurgGurl, it must be so hard for all of you to cope with your husband going off to a war theatre for a lengthy period. As you say it is his job, and things do at last seem to be getting better in Iraq. Our thoughts are with your family.

Checking to report that hubby is in-country now, though staying in temporary accomodations until those they are replacing vacate. Other than fatigue and some professional irritations, Clint sounds good. My high to report would be for him; he is stationed in Camp Victory (Baghdad) which according to the things I've read online, is the most desirable of all the bases in Iraq. It affords the things that mean the most to soldiers: numerous food outlets (Subway, BK, a pizza place, etc.), a large gym, a morale tent that offers round-the-clock internet access, and laundry services. Hopefully my hubby will be there often enough to utilize them, it's not home but it could be worse....

Thanks for taking an interest everyone.

That is good news BG, hope he will be there for some time so he can make use of the facilities available to him. Perhaps you will get to chat to him on-line...

My high this week is my daughter went to see her surgeon on Wednesday and he said her knee has healed - only a small crack in the patella. He is happy with her progress and has taken her off the Warfarin and wants to remove the wires in October.

I reread all the posts in this thread trying to find out what happened to your daughter Lady, but I didn't see anything...sorry if it's been said but what happened to her knee? A cracked patella is not something that sounds healed but if wires are involved it must have been much worse. Glad to hear she's on the mend.

I was just thinking about you and your hubby this morning, BG, so I'm glad to log on and see your good news.

High of my week is that today my archery club held a day where kids with cancer and their families could come and shoot. I helped out there all day and it was great to see them so happy, you couldn't tell which ones had cancer and which ones were the brothers or sisters.

It was really good seeing them have a good time.

How nice for the kids lioness and nice that you enjoyed seeing them having a good time too.

Sorry BG I thought everyone remembered that my daughter had a car accident in September last year and broke her patella. They wired it together and she has just got a 'clean bill of health'. She had a blood clot behind the knee 6 weeks after the operation so was put on Warfarin. Glad that is behind us now.
Nice picture of your hubby.

High of the week was the few days sailing trip, with perfect winds of around north-east 4 to 5, and plenty of sunshine. You can see a couple of short video clips here and here of this trip.
Quite a contrast from last week, when I spent several days poring over scientific papers of researchers seeking grants from my professional institution. I sit on the scholarships board, which awards these grants, and board members vote on which applicants will receive them. There were nearly 200 papers this time, all very worthy, but sadly only a few will get through. Subjects like 'Inspired bio-compatible communications protocol in magnetostriction sensor materials', or 'Photovoltaic finite time domain investigations of metamaterials for MIMEN-Plasma substrates'
Complicated I know, but I enjoy reading these things
Note: I've actually mixed up and amended these titles in order to ensure confidentiality, but you get the drift I'm sure.

My big low (big for my career anyway) is my first ever national newspaper interview I did back in January is now officially shelved. Had they said at the time it may never be used instead of 'in a week or two' I'd have had no expectations, but they prefer to wait for the decision even though they all know the truth.

But a big high was becoming immortal in the global challenge, something I never expected after 3 taken previously, and know how hard it truly is. I've got a week or so to play to keep my position but the main prize has already been gained.

I have been awarded a turquoise star by ebay, now isn't that the best news you have heard recently? Apparently I can download and print off a certificate, now wouldn't that look grand framed and on my wall for all to admire?

Alongside the QVC one I suppose? How nice to be appreciated at last dear.