It was bound to happen.  Several times we thought there were orders, there were none, and we collectively breathed a sigh of relief.  But the orders have finally come in.  Elizabeth is going to Korea for a year, beginning next March.

I work on the outskirts of the industrial section of Shreveport, and occasionally I have the opportunity to do errands during the day.  I am especially fond of driving down a road that has hundreds of jasmine bushes which are in bloom right now.

I've always been a person who can stand being in a crowd for only a short time. The occasional concerts, the big trips to Boston, the crush of humanity at Memorial Field for the Fourth of July fireworks, these things, while invigorating to some, tire me out. This is probably why I've loved the early morning so much.

I just read Ray Duckler's wonderful article on his mom, and it made me think of my own parents, now in Virginia Beach, VA. My sister, Barb, lives in Livingston, MT, and I'm down here in Copperas Cove, TX. And I got to thinking. I'm going to be in Ray's shoes at some point in my life.

I've gotten calls from friends and family from all over the US wanting to know the 'temperment' of the Texas voters, and who I believe might come out ahead in the Democratic Primary. That, like a lot of things in life, is very much up in the air.

I've been rather busy with the business lately, although I've had several topics running around in my head to put to blog. I'm concerned with the perception we have here at home, of our troops and all the good they are doing in Iraq. I'm also concerned with the lack of border security. And to top it all off, I'm concerned about the mortgage crisis and the inappropriate lending which has gone on in our country.

I'm now self-employed, after being employed by others for the better part of the past 20 years.  Although I'm doing without some benefits (health insurance), some of the benefits I gain are, in the words of the MasterCard ad, 'Priceless.'

Several weeks ago, my wonderful other half had to go and work away from home for about one week.  After being gone only one night, he called me with a riddle. What can't you do in Reno, Nevada, that you can do in Las Vegas?? - Get Married with Elvis!

I'm fortunate to be assocoated with a natinwide big-box hardware store.  But I'm not happy with their bi-polar attitude of storewide team work/you need to do YOUR job and no one else's.

Being that I'm literally a world away down here in Texas, I found out by e-mail of the untimely death of a friend.  He had passed away suddenly during the Nor'easter in mid-April, and it was a shock to his many family members and friends, and myself.