12/30/01

I now know why I moved to Virginia - it's COLD up here in CT!!!  Better than Buffalo where they got 7 feet of snow.  I like the fact that it will be summer in Australia, and it will nearly be Spring by the time I return.  Ronni is working on repainting her house.  It is fun picking paint colors that I don't have to then live with for years afterwards (no, really, Ronni, you'll LOVE the flamingo pink!).  More movies to watch tonight.  Love, P.

        12/29/01

I'm here at my 'brother' Brian's (Colville) house.  Lou & Al were supposed to be here, too, but they decided to leave a day early and were gone before I arrived.   They say they are sick of me, but I think they will miss me when I'm in Australia for 6 weeks.  I finally got to see Shrek today on DVD.  Very cute.  Brian & I started a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle.  We have 2 more DVDs to watch tonight.   Megan & Krista are getting impatient for me to finish up so we can start the next movie.  On to David's tomorrow...  I can see that I'm going to have to include a list of which movies I've already seen and which ones I want to see.  Love, P. 

        12/28/01

Today I got to meet with some old friends from highschool.  It was great to see Chris again this morning.  I spent the rest of the day with Eric and we went to not one, but two, movies (Ocean's 11 & Spy Game).  Both movies were great.  I even got Eric to take me to McDonald's for lunch and to a nice steak place for tenderloin for supper.  All in all, a great day.  I head to Allentown tomorrow and CT on Sunday.  Love, P.

        12/27/01

I had a relaxing day doing crossword puzzles with Mom and watching movies.  Dad has one of those Direct TV dishes and gets lots of channels.  I'm finally catching up on some of the movies I missed in the theaters.  I may have to invest in a dish when I get back from Australia.  I completely forgot about my Journal entry till I was in the bathtub.  Dad's already asleep and I'm trying to quietly type this, as the computer is in their bedroom.  I'd better go!  Goodnight.  Love, P.

        12/26/01

Happy Boxing Day!  We had our Christmas today.  Kat had a wonderful dinner for us, and the kids got way too many gifts.  Dad decided not to come (maybe he was worried about the frozen turkey).  Kat fretted so much about the turkey, that she bought a new one this morning, which was bigger and unfrozen.  She did a great job.   We are all sitting around in our post-prandial sleepy mode.  (All except David, who is playing with all his gifts).  I got out of clean-up detail by having pictures of me cleaning up after Thanksgiving.  Love, P.

        12/25/01

Merry Christmas to all!  It doesn't seem like Christmas, because we are having it tomorrow at Kat's.  Tomorrow may not seem like Christmas, either, because she just called to say that the turkey is frozen solid.  With McDonald's closed on my way up, I waited till I got here and asked Mom for an extra value meal #3.  The burger was from Dad's last animal, and was YUMMY.  She even made me fries.  What a good mommy. I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday.  With God's love, P.

12/24/01

I've been trying to put my house back together after having kids here yesterday. Note to self: don't buy/use/allow kids to use spray-on snow for window designs. Today, I went to 3 different Food Lions for the 12 pack Diet Coke bonus buy of $1.99 (limit 4). I may wear my wig and dark glasses and go back to the closest Food Lion later this afternoon for 4 more. I'll be heading to PA tomorrow. We are having Christmas at Kat's on the 26th so she can do the in-law thing on Christmas day. I just thought of something bad - it is unlikely that McDonalds will be open for lunch on Christmas Day on my drive up! Boo hoo! Love, P.

12/23/01

I survived the potato blight, but no supper invitation yet for tomorrow. I got a reprieve with "Adventureland" - only 2 girls could make it, and I had supper at Gardellas rather than supper here. Lynn's brother Bruce is moving back in town after a few years working in Georgia. He was at supper, and it was great to see him. In the Spring, we can golf together. Rebecca made me a 'crown' to wear out of gold ribbon. It has 2 blue pipe-cleaners sticking up out of it, so I look like Cindy-Lou Who. Love, P.

12/22/01

I guess the Miami Dolphins needed me to be at the game for them to win. Funny thing is that when Chris & I were in High School, he was a rabid Dolphins fan, and I was a Patriots fan. Over the years, I lost loyalty to the Patriots and since my trip to the game in Miami, I was actually rooting for them. Sorry for the loss, Chris - I know you were watching! I reheated some chicken and mashed potatoes for supper tonight. I ate them even though the potatoes smelled rancid. What was I thinking? Now I'm wondering if I'm going to get deathly ill. I keep trying to remember which nasty bacteria are carried in rancid potatoes. Will I survive the night? Will I get potato blight? Now people can see what happens when I am NOT invited out for dinner! I'll write tomorrow if I'm not too sick. Good thing I have dinner plans at Gardellas for tomorrow night. I need plans for Christmas Eve yet and that should cover me through the end of the year - any offers? Love, P.

12/21/01

Last chance to break 100 today. Too bad it was 48 degrees with a whipping wind. I had so many layers on that I could barely swing my arms (I looked like Michelin Woman). For the conditions, I played pretty well, but ended up shooting a 57/49 = 106. Heck, in 2002 I'll be whining about wanting to break 90! Kandi's Mom made me a care package of ham biscuits, potato salad, and cake. Yum! No cooking necessary for the next few days. Love, P.

12/20/01

"Adventureland at Auntie Pam's" got post-poned till Sunday due to Rachel's fever. Instead, I broke it up with 2 families just for dinner tonight with 5 kids total, and the girls here Sunday afternoon with their families coming for dinner that night, 6 kids total. I may survive the Holidays, afterall. I'm going to freeze my butt on the golf course tomorrow, with highs in the upper 40's. I very much doubt that I'll break 100 if it is that cold, but I'll give it a shot (or 7, or 8, or 9 per hole). ER is a re-run tonight, so I can go to bed early. Love, P.

12/19/01

I finished wrapping presents today and got a few more cards out. I wanted to go to the pro-shop today to use up my gift certificate money, so I wore jeans so I wouldn't be able to be tempted to play a few holes. I bought a sweater, a vest, a towel, and 2 gloves, all for me! Dinner at Jeff's was nice, and they sent me home with left-overs. He convinced me to play golf one more time this year on Friday. Since I tend to have my best rounds when I play with him, he thinks I will surely break 100. Coming home in the dark, there was a car riding my bumper on Rte. 616, and it didn't pass me at the one spot where you can pass. I decided to step on it, but no matter how fast I went, the car was right on me. I turned right onto 600, at which point he turned on his blue & red cop lights, but then he went straight. What does that mean? Am I going to get a speeding ticket in the mail? I hope not. Love, P.

12/18/01

Today I played what was probably my last round of golf for 2001. Still didn't break 100 (sigh), but it was a course I have never played before and I shot a 53/54 = 107, so not too bad for me. NEXT year!! I'm not taking my clubs with me to PA and CT for Christmas/New Year's, and I turned down an invitation to play this coming Friday. I just have too much stuff to do. My poor little nephew Andrew took a header off a chair this morning and gashed open his forehead. The ER used the "crazy glue" stuff instead of stitches, and he should heal just fine. Will this make him think twice before climbing on the chair? Doubtful. Joan made a delicious beef stew for supper tonight & Jeff invited me to supper tomorrow night. I like all of these invitations so I don't have to cook! Love, P.

12/17/01

I was heartened to read all those guestbook entries tonight. THE Eric Peiffer?! How did you hear? How do I contact you? And, yes, I remember you, Carrie. Marcia had told me long ago that lolta is just as Mom figured out - lots of love to all - I guess you haven't been reading the Journal as carefully as you thought, Julia (or else she told me in an Email). The highlight of my day was having Pastor Bill's son Chris (a podiatrist) lasar a wart on the bottom of my foot. I figure it was going to bother me when I wear sandals. I had Marianne over for supper tonight and she hung the lights on my tree while she was here. I supervised from the comfort of my leather chair. The ornaments will wait until "Adventureland at Auntie Pam's" Day on Thursday when the girls can do the work (as I again supervise from the chair). Too bad they are too young to address my Christmas cards and wrap gifts. I am supposed to be playing some golf tomorrow afternoon with a friend. I hope it doesn't rain and that it warms up a bit. If I play poorly, I can always blame my freshly lasared foot. Love, P.

12/16/01

I seem to be spending more time making lists of all the things I need to do rather than doing anything. I still have not wrapped my presents. I did finish the bulk of my cards, but in the process I found a cellular phone bill which was due on Friday. Oh well. Maybe they will assume it was delayed by the heavy mailings that go out this time of year. Here's hoping I have a productive day tomorrow! Love, P.

12/15/01

So, there are people sneaking a peak at the Journal without getting counted? This could mean that a lot of people are tracking my every move. I'd better start sounding sicker (cough, cough, wheeze) in case the disability insurance people are reading. The parties were fun last night. I did not get bitten this year, only a bunch of hugs and kisses. Sort of an anticlimactic night compared to last year. Today was Chistmas tree procurement day, with the Gardellas, the Wilsons, and me in a 3 truck/SUV caravan to the tree farm. This year I picked a small tree, which actually IS a small tree (every year I think I'm getting a small tree and I end up having to cut a foot or so off so it doesn't hit the ceiling). I'll put the lights on and allow the girls (Rebecca, Rachel, Madeline, & Katie) to decorate it. I'll end up with a small tree with clumps of tinsel and all the ornaments on the lower branches, but so what - they like it. Lynn's mom was just diagnosed with colon cancer, and she has really started me thinking again about dying. She says she has had a good life and is ready to die. I, on the other hand, feel that I have lots more life to live and am too young to die. She does not really want to bother with chemo, etc. I had wondered whether I would go through more chemo if the next set of scans are worse. Now, I know that I will fight for my life and take whatever chemo they feel I need. Until then (cough, cough, wheeze), I'll have to suffer through my trip to Australia & New Zealand :) Love, P.

12/14/01

Okay, okay, I'll TRY to keep doing the Journal. I had great plans for today - errands, wrapping, cleaning, etc. Instead, I woke up late, watched the ER episode I taped last night, and didn't get into town till the afternoon. I think that I bought all the presents I had planned. If I missed yours, too bad! I found a top on sale to wear to tonight's Christmas parties (it is Movers & Shakers night AND also the annual ER party). At last year's ER party, a younger man bit my arm - who knows what will happen tonight!!? Thanks for the Guest Book support - the Holidays can get you down sometimes. Love, P.

12/13/01

I didn't get as much done today as I wanted, but I did wrap a few gifts and did about a fourth of my Christmas cards. I am giving up golf tomorrow to do more, and need to go into town for a few more things. I wonder why I am doing this every day. When I logged on today, only 2 people had been to the website since last night. Is there a point to this? Do I have to report in every boring day? P.

12/12/01

Day two of the shopping marathon - we did it! I was better today at buying things for others rather than for myself (unlike yesterday). Now all I have to do is wrap gifts. I'm done except for Barb's gift, but I couldn't do that with her there. We went to Elaine & Rich Bernstein's office open house this evening, which had so many great hors d'oeuvres that we didn't have to eat supper. Barb has to leave in the morning. I think I'll spend tomorrow doing my Christmas cards. At least for people who read the Journal, I won't have to write any news, which should save some time. Love, P.

12/11/01

Barb left York before the sun was up and got here shortly after I got up and had my shower this morning. We spent all day Christmas shopping and I have barely made a dent in it. Thank you, Kat, for at least giving me a 'wish list'. I don't like Christmas shopping any more this year than any other year. Bah humbug! We then met Joan at The Pub for supper. There was a special on the Travel Channel about Sydney Harbor - Barb and I can't wait till our trip! More shopping tomorrow, I guess. Love, P.

12/10/01

Home, sweet home! What a long drive. It rained the whole way. My butt is sore from sitting so long. It was close to 9 hours from Atlanta. Early bed for me after a long bubble bath. Barb arrives tomorrow for a few days of Christmas shopping. My trip was great, but it is nice to be back. I better get started on my Christmas cards soon. I can't believe that it is almost Christmas. I guess all that 80 degree weather in SC and FL threw me off the track! 42 and raining now - what was I thinking when I said it was great to be back??? Love, P.

12/9/01

Today we went downtown for lunch and to see Centennial Park. We then went to see the Festival of Trees, in which Christmas trees, wreaths, etc. are displayed. The kids did crafts and listened to the storyteller. We arrived in the middle of game traffic to the Falcons vs. Saints game, and left just as the game was getting out. The Saints' fans looked happy, though I didn't hear the score. Speaking of games, sounds like Trent & Tyler's basketball game was great. Congratulations, boys! Long drive to Virginia tomorrow. Happy Birthday, Barb! Love, P.

12/8/01

We made painted Christmas cookies today. We also made a big mess in the kitchen. Glenn just took the kids out to Blockbuster to rent a movie for tonight. Kate's sleep-over friend was voting for Thumbelina when they left - it may be a dull evening. I may read a book. I still vote for dull over the mass chaos that Tammy must have had last night at her house with Tyler's birthday party! Love, P.

12/7/01

Tammy & I had time for 18 holes of golf this morning. Alas, 110, still unable to break 100. The drive to Atlanta was just over 4 hours. That should have been a piece of cake, but I'm getting travel-weary. I dread the 8-plus hour drive back to Virginia on Monday! My sister told me that my nephew no longer asks for Aunt Pam to get better when he throws a coin into a fountain. He now asks for lots of Christmas toys because "Aunt Pam is already better". Let's hope he is right! I left Tammy's in the nick of time - she was having 12 boys for a sleep-over for Tyler's 7th birthday tonight. Yikes! Good luck, Tammy! Happy Birthday, Tyler! Love, P.

12/6/01

We only had time for 9 holes of golf today. I did a bit better than my average, and Tammy only won by 2 strokes. We have time for 9 tomorrow before I leave for Atlanta. The boys sang Christmas songs in the elementary school Christmas show. Hard to get in the spirit for Christmas when it is 79 degrees out! My heart broke when a third grader whose father died of a massive heart attack 2 days ago had to excuse himself during the program. God bless him and his family! Tonight is the Medical Society Christmas Dinner. Since I attended the last Society meeting when I was here last month, I am practically an honorary member, so I'll be going. I think Tammy was afraid of what would happen if she left me home to baby-sit! Love, P.

12/5/01

I enjoyed St. Augustine and had a great carriage ride through the old part of the city. Hopefully at least 1 or 2 pictures will come out for the website. I missed Tammy's surprise birthday party/oyster roast last weekend because the Florida trip had already been planned. There were several bushels left, so tonight she is having all the neighbors over for a backyard party. I have to help her set-up, so I'll end here. Love, P.

12/4/01

We went to the beach this morning. I met cousin Ann for lunch today. Gotta have shrimp while I'm here! I drove up as far as St. Augustine. I went to a brew pub for supper, walking distance from my hotel in the historic district. I joined two guys from NJ, here for a conference, and sampled the brews (the Winter Porter was my favorite). The food was great, both for lunch today with Ann and tonight. Tomorrow morning I plan to check out the historic sites of "the oldest city in the US" and head to Tammy's. I couldn't see much when I got here, because it was dark & rainy. Love, P.

12/3/01

Golf was fun. I still haven't broken 100 (sigh), but the weather was perfect, I had some good shots, and I really liked the course we played on. Rich was kind enough to let me win low net. I spent the afternoon by the pool, book in hand. Sandy is talking about going out for Chinese food for supper. I'm going to start driving back up towards Tammy's sometime tomorrow afternoon. I'll stay in a hotel and may have time for either 9 holes of golf Wednesday morning, or may decide to stop by the World Golf Hall of Fame, depending on how far North I am when I stop. Love, P.

12/2/01

The game was great! Extended family of Rich & Sandy have 18 season tickets for many years. They have game day down to a science. We had steak for lunch as our tailgating meal, and were under tents during the rain. It cleared up before kick-off. I didn't think that the Dolphins were going to win, but they pulled it off in the fourth quarter. Did anyone see me on TV? I don't think they ever had a camera on or section. We had end zone seats. I wore sunscreen. Golf tomorrow! Love, P.

12/1/01

Things are a bit different here in Florida. For example, the newspaper has 3 sections devoted to autos for sale, and 6 pages of movie listings. Our entire paper is usually 2 sections. I feel like Dorothy leaving Kansas. We shopped today and then Sandy and I went to visit my cousin Ann in Pompano Beach. She is an artist and her husband is a musician. It was great to see her. I am now the proud owner of one of her original paintings and one of her husband's Jazz CDs. Both are wonderful. We made plans to meet again for lunch on Tuesday before I leave. Love, P.