I read an article this morning that said "internet sales are down from last year" Wonder if that is why there is such a lack of interest on the message boards also? People seem to be tiring of the internet, maybe this is a call to start using the phone and mail service again? All of our lives can't be that boring that we have nothing to say.

Well, Gig and I had an interesting experience. We've wanted to go to Europe for our 40th anniversary (which is next summer), but since we've been told we may finally be grandparents next summer, we pretty much figured it would never happen...wouldn't want to be away at a time like that! As a surprise, our kids & parents helped pitch in to help us get there for our 39th anniversary instead. (We planned this trip 3 weeks before we left.)Since Gig is a world history/art history teacher, we went to Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Venice, Paris, etc. (all in less than 2 weeks) and saw all the museum/art things...saw things he's been teaching about for years. The 4th day of our trip, we were in Rome & Pres. Bush happened to be there. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We were sitting at a little table outside a tiny bar/cafe, when thousands of anti-Bush/anti-war demonstrators came down the street & on the opposite side were policemen. The side streets were full of people pouring onto the main street, and there was no way out, so we just sat close to the entrance of the cafe hoping all would be peaceful. We could hardly believe it, but they clashed right in front of the cafe...tear gas went off and the crowd stampeded us. I was literally stampeded & pushed into the cafe, Gig was smashed against the wall outside...finally got him into the cafe before they boarded it up. There were around 25 of us hold up in there...we were down a little staircase that led to the bathroom. People were crashing against the cafe trying to get in, but it was so tiny, they couldn't allow any more in....for almost 2 hours we could hear the tear gas explosions and crowds screaming, and people trying to smash their way into the cafe. It was very scary. Finally the police dispersed the crowd enough for us to leave. The next day we went to Florence and there was another smaller demonstration in the train terminal. I was glad to get out of there also. Venice and Paris were peaceful, and we recuperated, but we probably would have headed home right after the riot had it not been for the fact we didn't want to disappoint our families. The rest of the vacation did turn out okay, and we have some wonderful memories of the historical things we saw. Idaho looked great to us, and I think we'll just stick with our Idaho/Montana/Oregon vacations from here on out!!!

Betty,
Sounds like a trip you will NEVER forget! "History in the making"! Glad to hear at least part of the trip was enjoyable! I envy you for having the opportunity and ability to go!

Hi Susan, I am going adventuring tormorrow up in TJ's mountains. We are taking up Mom's stone. Jonnies' little brother will be there as well as TJ and Susie. Little Katie and Katie Sue will be there all smiles, looking like a million dollars. Pop will be there ready to go fishing. I will take Trouble, Rootie and my fishing poles. TJ asked me to bring my tools. I guess we will build some steps onto his new deck. There appears to be an adventure afoot. When the demon woman drags me back to the desert all tired and sunburned, I will report back to you.

Moose,
So what happened? I'm waiting breathlessly for your stories. You are such a great story teller.

I just got back in Idaho. The weekend before the 4th I went up to help TJ build some steps for his new red wood deck. Pop and I built one set and TJ rebuild the other set of steps. The first day Pop and TJ went into town with Trouble and I to get a steak and a couple of beers. Before we had finished, two local girls pulled their chairs up to our table and chatted with us. Dee Dee was born is 1965: OUCH. TJ, that rascal, is always getting us in some kind of trouble. I think both of these girls wanted to have his baby, although I was a little beer foggy on the details. TJ puts on a fine table at his cabin and treats everyone as special guests. Thanks again, TJ. Trouble and I went with the Lau's to Las Vegas for the 4th. We ate well and took in a show. Later, everyone was playing electronic poker and doing fine. I couldn't get an interest in it, so I went to a roulette wheel to watch. The more I watched, the more I was convinced that red was my lucky number. I asked a fine looking Chinese woman where to buy chips. She sold me one for $25.00 I played red and lost. She then sold me $100 worth and I put it all on red again. I won and she was getting excited. I let it ride and lost it all. She said, "Come on. I have some chips and I know where we could play them." Well, I helped her lose them all. She was a good sport and just laughed. Those Las Vegas players are about as friendly as I've ever seen. I had a ball. Life is good.

Thanks Moose and Pam for the wonderful memorial stone for Ma Tish. It was great having you two here and as members of the family. We love ya

TJ & Sue