I spent the last two weeks in TX with my ailing parents. It feels surreal to be one place, fully immersed in the busyness of life, and then to be in another, and then to be back again. I am not good at doing more than one demanding thing at a time. Driving while using a phone is about my limit! :) (That's for you, Clark) I wish for the perhaps idealized norm of the past, where extended families lived close and helped and supported one another through all phases of life. I have envied a bit the friends I have who live closer to that ideal than I ever have. I definitely wish I were closer to my parents at this time in their lives. My thoughts are there with them while I am back here now catching up on paperwork, teen drama, snow, etc. A HUGE Thank You to Kevin for seeing India through oral surgery, Coral through her trip- a HUGE NO THANKS to American Airlines and the FAA for screwing that up for her-, keeping the house spotless, not ruining any laundry, and for installing the shelving in the garage. I was skeptical about this, but am happy to have been wrong. I am actually thrilled that he and Shawn built the work bench to high for me-Kevin will have to build all future Siege Machines and other school projects!