Lol, I'm not gonna drive the truck. I'm gonna plant flowers in the bed of it at the shop, lol. I just talked to the dentist and its gonna cost me a thousand dollars to fix that one dang tooth. Corporate at Denny's is officially closed today but the guy that answered the phone seemed to think they were going to take care of it but said I had to wait for the lady to call me tomorrow to tell me what I need to do. I can't get an appt. with the dentist until next week unless I want to pay the emergency fee. Thats another $200. I'm gonna have a dang hole in my tongue by then from the sharp edges. I told hubby to file it down with a dremmel, lol. He is not a happy camper. Sharp teeth are no fun, lol.

ky la: Thank you for sharing your father's obituary. When I read it it brought back memories of growing up in Boise and visiting my older brother who went to school at ISU in Pocatello. Your father sounds like a terrific man who certainly left this world way too early. I know that I can tell you the obvious, that you should not blame yourself, that there is no reason to feel guilt. You will have many folks telling you this, but the olny thing that will really ease those terrible feelings is time. Know that with time things will become easier. Know that different folks greive in different ways. A person who outwardly appears to be in complete control may just be torn up inside... it's hard to tell. I'm sorry about your dad. If he were anything like a number of the fine folks I grew up with in Southern Idaho, then I know that the world is a lesser place with his passing. --in my thoughts, --John

sunnygardenerme...I have tried to be nice to her. I do give her hugs when I arrive. I do compliment the meals she cooks. She is a very good cook. However, it as though she cannot help herself but to pick a fight everytime I am around. Things always have to go her way. She always feels as though she is entitled to set the agenda and I am not willing to compromise on some things. My time there is precious and limited and I want to do the things that are important and entertaining to me. Often she will insist we go to the movies (I feel that going to the movies is a waste of time when time is limited), or she wants to play Texas Hold'em (I don't enjoy poker). She lets her dogs jump up on me when she knows that I really don't like them, she brings up and trys to justify why she treated me the way she did when we first met, which I have always felt was unjustifiable and unacceptable and is sure to start an arguement. The only solution is to bring a friend with me when I do go there and to only stay for 2-3 days MAX. She trys a little harder to behave herself when there are other people around. The problem with that is when I do bring friends and stay for only a few days, I still don't get any time to really relate or spend time with my dad and then my dad complains to me that I am the one who is not trying to have a relationship. He says that I only come to his house as if I am "passing through" and my real visit it with my cousin/his niece. I guess that he is partially right. I enjoy the time that I spend with my cousin, she is like a sister to me and I feel comfortable when I am staying at her place. She lives in Denver and he lives 2 hours from Denver, so I have to travel from the city/airport when I do go to his place. It would be easier for me to just stay in the city, so it is not accurate to say that I am just "passing through". I do think that my dad loves her and I have never said otherwise. I have no intention or hope of splitting them up. I want my dad to be happy, and if she makes him happy then I am glad. I don't think that he should have to split with her in order to visit me without bringing her along. Those are HER conditions, not mine. It truly doesn't make sense to me why she would want to come along other than the obvious control thing. If I were her and I didn't get along with my husband's children, I would encourage him to spend time with them without subjecting myself or them to the discomfort of being around somebody I didn't get along with. I actually do get along with my boyfriend's family and I still encourage him to also spend time with them when I am not around and he does the same for me.

Ten years ago 2 friends and I were having dinner (and probably a few too many beers) and decided to bring back our Christmas Parade that hadn't been done for about 15 years. That lead to us having a light up night in town. It has been a tremendous event, after the parade Santa goes to the gazebo in Central Park and lights the park, he then sees every child that wants to see him. Each child receives a gift, usually a book or two, crayons, an orange, a bag of candy and mittens or gloves. We usually prepare 1000 gifts and end up with only a few leftovers at the end of the night. Santa takes the last few children on a walk thru the park to see the lights and the village, that walk ends with him telling them the Night Before Christmas. I had to stop helping in the gazebo a couple of years ago, my RA was reacting badly with the cold and damp, but the event continues and is always a great success. The visit with Santa is usually the only Santa event these kids have. It was always the highlight of my holiday, what a fun start to the holiday season. And I learned....one should not have too much beer! LOL!!!!