• I forgot to mention that Mom cancelled her appt with the, oh, can't think of the word! She was supposed to have an endoscopy done because of her heartburn, but she says she doesn't have any heartburn anymore. I think she is taking a new prescription for something but I can't remember the name for it. Sorry for all the half-infos!
  

• Jo went to Las Vegas the weekend before last for a conference and really enjoyed it, but I think she was actually glad to get back to KY weather.
• Fred and Mitch worked on Mom's fence this past weekend. I went over and decorated a cake for her, which tickled her. You really never know what's going to make your mother happy!
• Mom told me that Gus went to a restaurant equipment auction this past week. I guess it's in our blood...
• I'm taking Mary to get an MRI on Saturday. She's had a sore on one of her toes for about four months (due to my soaking it in water, unfortunately, which I should have known better than to do). They want to see if there's an infection in the bone, which means the sore really doesn't have any chance of healing. If there is, then they will recommend removing her toe, which is apparently a pretty common procedure. She says she will NOT have her toe removed. She might have no choice if the infection spreads and they have to remove part of her leg. Then I won't be able to take care of her.
• I never mentioned that Janelle's birthday part went really well--except that she wasn't surprised. Apparently, they never can surprise her. She's just too darn clever, darn it!
• Amy said that Kaela did well at the horse show on Sunday.
• Dad is bummed that his computer has finally been fixed and so he can't complain that he needs a new one anymore.
• Mom's hips are hurting her a lot. I think it has something to do with the shoes she wears (ie, not the good ones that I talked her into buying because they're white and she might get them dirty).
• Fred put a lovely add on http://louisville.kijiji.com/. Check it out! Just search for "Fred Klein." (This site looks like a maybe nicer version of Craigslist.)
  

Nikki and Simone-- so far away

This in from Nikki:

Nikki: still gainfully employed at the University of Maryland and Glut Food Co-op. A friend commented on people web-searching themselves. Because of my scientific work, lo, there I am! Who knew! Yet the bees keep calling me (particularly if I lift the hive cover on these chilly mornings). Involvement with BUMBA, our local beekeeping group, seems to ramp up more every year. I teach the behavioral session for our beekeeping course, established our group with Maryland Day at the University of Maryland, gave a native bee lecture for BUMBA and again at Behnke's Nursery in Beltsville, MD, and anticipate more events this spring. Since Beau Ami, my old man-dog died last fall, I have not been rollerblading much. Hope to turn that around this spring. Simone and Ave Talbott treated me to a day (all 3 of us) at SpaWorld in Virginia- which was awesome and exhausting. Nothing like cooking yourself at 188 F for 15 min. at a time. Seems every weekend is whiffed away by work and obligations. Simone and I are planning a couple of weekend treks this summer, wrapped around holidays in order to save her limited vacation time. Because of the latter situation, we don't know when we may be able to visit family in Louisville. I hope, hope that it will be before next X-mas.

Simone: It's been a rewarding 1st year working at John Hopkin's Hospital. She manages a group of social workers in the pediatric intensive care & emergency room and has specific duties in ped.neurology. I think she'll be brushing up on her Spanish as they are offering classes on medical terminology in Spanish. She's put in her 1st rows of veggies in her garden plots. The 'neck squash' were such a success last year I'm sure she'll try them again. As co-manager of that space, she has some new ideas for the coming season- but Not about having bees. Wish she didn't live an hour away. She'd make an excellent rollerblading buddy. A local Baltimore reservoir lake has new path paving which she says makes it an excellent skate site. She is very involved with her church, St Ignatius. Their small gallery is where she had her 1st show of photos last fall. The local zydeco dance group, Somebody Scream Productions, is back in action with a new venue near Catonsville, MD. Their 1st dance was on my birthday! We both assist in making these events happen by volunteering. Speaking of dancing, I don't think Simone has continued with belly dancing. Too much going on at night, particularly since she has some evenings when she sees therapy patients.

Enough? There's more, but I must sign off. Nikki

PS

PS--Dad is obsessed with buying a new computer. He sent his original Dell back and thinks they sent him back an old, messed up one with obscene photos on it. They probably just sent his original one back to him! Anyway, a friend of August's is now checking it out to see what's wrong with it. Can't wait to hear what he finds!

Also, Dad immediately wanted to get a new car because the jeep had been hit. If I heard Mom correctly, he had a man drive a new car over to the house for them to look at!!!

• The last I heard, Jan is moving back to Louisville. She had problems getting insurance out in Phoenix. I'm not sure when that will be, but she'll be here mid-March since her mom's 80th birthday is March 21.
• As Mom was driving downtown to her dentist appointment yesterday, a guy ran a red light and hit the front of the jeep and then drove off. She was ok but she said the front of the the car looked pretty bad.
• Devin's hanging in there in Pittsburgh. Apparently, everyone's hours were cut but they've promised her more soon. Luckily, she was able to keep her insurance.
• Cyndi seemed to be doing well after her surgery when she was here for Gina's Tea Party. Natalie is totally into a retro phase--60's, I think. She played it very cool sitting outside on the car, reading a book, while the boys in the neighborhood suddenly all flocked over to this corner to skateboard!
  

March Birthdays & Anniversaries

Birthdays

• Aunt Anna--Tues, Mar. 3--97
• Janelle--Wed, Mar. 11--25
• Jan--Thurs, Mar. 12--60
• Aunt Angie--Wed, Mar. 18, 1917 -- May 2, 2008
• Chris--Thurs, Mar. 19--51
• Nikki--Fri, Mar. 20--59
• Jaylen--Thurs, Mar. 26--2
  

Anniversaries

• Mitch and Kim--Tues, Mar. 10--31
  

Gleaned from Facebook

• At their last doctor's visit, they found that Kaela had gained 3 pounds and grew about an inch. Hopefully they will only have one more trip to the endocrinologist and they will be done.
• Jenny is working at Walgreens with Janelle and is planning on going into the pharmacy field.
• Caitlin is now single.
• Jill and Jeremy tested their house and found they have high levels of radon.
  
• Jill will be attending Sullivan's Pharmacy School starting this summer.