Ruthie, I was planning on calling you. I know one day we will be in Leaky visiting friends. The other I don't really have any plans. We would love for you and John to come see our motor home. We will be staying at the Buckhorn RV there in Kerrville. We won't be getting in until late in the afternoon on the 17th. I will call our friends and see what day is best for them. Do you have a preference?

I spend about an hour in the morning catching up on the news, my Etsy shop, here, a jewelry community of which I'm a member and moderator and checking my email. After that's done, it's breakfast, whatever household chores need to be done and I usually spend several hours a day in my studio. I'm too busy during the day to spend much time on the internet. If I take a break from whatever it is I'm doing, I'll get online for a few minutes. In the evenings, after dinner and clean-up is done, is my relaxing time and I usually watch tv and do things on the internet at the same time. My attitude is much like Marilyn C's in that I have a lot to do and enjoy spending time by myself. For a long time, we didn't have television, so the internet was the only way we had to keep up with the news as well as being a main source of evening entertainment. I don't have a smart phone, so my phone is for making and receiving calls only. When we go on trips, we take our laptops with us and spend time in the mornings and evenings catching up with online things. The rest of the time we are out seeing the sights and sometimes we end up on places where internet connections aren't very reliable which means we're "unplugged" whether we like it or not. I remember being in a hotel in Aruba a few years ago before we had laptops (just desk tops at home) and the only source of internet was a computer in the hotel bar. I used it every few days to check the local news which is how I found out our home was in the path of a forest fire. Having that knowledge prompted me to contact our neighbors for updates so we were in the loop. However, I'm not sure what good it did us because there was nothing we could do it about it from such a difference and knowing about fire being so close just caused worry and stress. I find it disturbing and kind of sad to see families sitting together at a restaurant but none of them talking to each other because they are all glued to their phones. Or, not fully experiencing an event or attraction because they are paying more attention to their phone than what is going on around them. But, that is their loss (or perhaps they don't consider it such), and none of my business, so I try not to concern myself with such things. Technology can and does enrich our lives as long as we are in control of the technology and not the other way around.

Is there anyone who can help you? I know you're a tough cookie, but this is such a lot of work, with the worry piled on top. Will you be able to stay at your house? (Are you also expecting a lot more rain?) I'm really glad to know your dh is with you--thanks Marilyn and Linda for posting. Will continue to worry and pray for you and yours!

Annie, I, too, appreciate your helming this ship and I hope we can get back to normal soon. I vote to keep the name as it because it is so well known and most of us know what to do. My suggestion would be when you state the theme for the day, right under it maybe post something like "Let's see YOUR photos" or something like that. That way it's clear right away and you can look at the rules, but it's pretty clear what is expected. Your photo may very well be one that someone else took but if you just say that when you post it, that should suffice. Most everybody starts at the very beginning of each post so they should see that message. Thanks for all you do!!! Edited to Add: I wrote this before going over to today's thread and saw what you posted. That's perfect to me! Thanks.