LisaVt:Come to Vermont. It's a great place to live and it's closer to Canada. ;-) Heck, if that's where you're going, my thumb is out!  I'll make the lunches, take care of the library, drive the school bus, or something.  I bet I could teach science, even.  Uh - how's Fozzie with cats?Love, Columbine 

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  JEEEEEZ.  I think I just hit what I'm hoping is the worst part, but this author has no mercy, and there are a couple even worse things that could happen.  It's a good book, but NOT one to read when things aren't going well or your health is subpar.Love, Columbine 

P.S. Do consider that they might be under budgetary pressure to hammer you with inadequacy bombs to get you to quit before you're eligible for your full pension.  Take it with a boxcar of salt in light of that.  Anybody over 4 years old can see that you're an idealist, and that's an underbelly so soft and white that it glows in

YES!  BombMom has the right idea - private school!  Not only won't your talent be stuffed under the bushel basket of kids' health and behavior problems; but you won't have inept bureaucrats and political climbers trying to enforce multiple conflicting and meaningless standards.You might also look into working with elders. 

Eva:Thank you Columbine! I didn't even need to see your note to know it was from you. I love it. So that's two times I have had your name, and two times you have had mine! Do you think maybe we were each other in a previous life? Love, Columbine 

Oh, I thought it was a gift.  (Gifts aren't attempts to influence, they're given freely.)  Well, go ahead and use my words if you want, but keep my name off them.  I just ceased to appreciate this project.

Loulabelle: Columbine:Penelope lived in the harborThere were plenty of merfolk thereBut her sister snared all of the sailorsWith her fancy seaweed hairBut she had a short span of attentionAnd one day when she was gonePenelepe put the moves onNow she has that hunky sailor boy SeanEvery day-ay-ay-ay-ay... Columbine, may i share this with the boys? ...

Downhome!  Cracking rag, but I've run out of space for back issues.  First to PM or email me with snail addy gets April '08 to October '09.Love, Columbine ETA We have a winner!  Loulabelle gets a virtual trip to the Rock courtesy of the folks at Downhome. 

Anybody for stuffed mushrooms and pumpkin ale?    I could live on hors d'oeuvres/tapas/starters!  What's your favorite?Love, Columbine 

Black pudding's good, especially when it's spicy, and I'm definitely partial to tomatoes and mushrooms with my eggs.  But the best breakfast I had in England was in Alnwick.  My guidebook said that if I wanted the famous local kippers, I'd have to ask ahead, so I did, not knowing what they were.  The next morning I was