Hi

Well, 5 days since anyone's posted anything... hmmm... This won't do. So, thought I'd add something to make up for the lack of blogging action in the last few days...

Did Mike ever answer your "what's new" question? If not, well, it's probably 'cause not much is new! He's liking school... you should see him when he comes home all excited because he had math class! Now, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm just guessing, but I was thinking this was probably a slightly different point of view than he had a little over 10 years ago...? Comments, Carl? :) He comes home complaining about the kids who show up late and disturb everyone's concentraion, and he looks so forlorn over losing one, yes one, single mark on his tests (he *only* got 29/30!! - the world's coming to an end!). Have to say though, I love seeing him enjoying something so much. :)

As for me, pretty much same old, same old. I did desert him for a few days last week - was down in Cincinnati (couldn't get the bloody WKRP song out of my head the whole time!) doing a bronchoscopy course, ie looking down into people's (or in this case, piggies') lungs with a flexible fibreoptic tube, with the picture projected on a monitor. VERY cool stuff! Learned lots, and got lots of practice. And I couldn't believe how well organized it all was - block of rooms booked at hotel a block over, shuttles to bring us between the hotel and course venue, fabulous lunches (ever had filet mignon at a conference before?!?), even a dinner cruise one night. Incredible. Very professionally done. 'Course, for the price, I suppose that's what I should have expected! Here's hoping my program comes through with a little subsidy!

Other than that, just looking forward to Thanksgiving - going to Ottawa for a whirlwind wkd - one of my friends is getting married Sat, we have dinner at my Grampa's (Dad's dad) Sun, dinner at my parents' place Mon for my mom's side of the family - and the big 3-0 for me :( - then leave Tues a.m. No rest for the weary. Or was that wicked??

Speaking of my family, thought I'd send you all the site of the family blog I set up... think of it as a little preview (ie forwarning...) :) I set it up because one of my aunts (mom's youngest sister) is currently in the Ivory Coast - just left for a year to work on some project for the UN, helping the government to set up a training program for prison workers (I think!) - and thought it'd be a good, and easy, way to keep in touch with her... she's got some pretty funny stories already... few things you should know: she's a coffee connoisseur (the type with her own grinder, who drinks coffee into the wee hours of the morning), and somewhat of a, uh, practical dresser. That should help understand most of her comments :) The site is "www.dibartoloboisvert.blogspot.com" if you're interested.

Anyways, I think I've written a novel... hope it inspires people to keep writing :)

Bye for now. Love to all.
Lena