THIS IS RUSS AGAIN. WE got stopped at the Canadian border and had the car searched for a "random" search. Unbelievable. I think they profiled us when we said we had Trisha's French Martini ingredients in a tote bag. They were looking hard at my medication. I think they tought I was smuggling Lipitor to Canada. A far, depressing cry from when then might have searched us in the sixties for marijuana.

I resisted going to Nova Scotia for almost 40 years, and now know why. Pretty, but not as nice as so many places in the states. But that's probably the curmudgeon in me who didn't like Wicked. Seriously, is there ANYBODY out there who didn't like Wicked, or are we all alone on this?

We're VERY close to renting in Florida. Should have something in a few days. This is for December and January. We anticipate our kids might come down over the school break, but please figure out when you want to come down the rest of the time, and let us know. There are two extra guest rooms, so we can accomodate two couples at a time. And I think I know who not to book who with. And if you want to come with a particular other couple, arrange it and give us the dates. Our goal is to have people visit as much as possible. Seriously.

Our Florida rules will be that there are no rules. You can spend time with us and/or travel about on your own and visit other friends, and we will do likewise. We will be actively looking to buy, and hopefully I'll be able to play golf, but please plan on playing on your own or with others you know here if I'll still incapacitated, or even if I'm not.

More reminiscing about vacations. Renee, please correct me if I have any of this wrong,but my grandfather, who grew up on the lower east side and never had much money, loved to bet on the numbers and horses. Always only a nickel on the numbers or 2 dollars on a horse, and his preferable method of picking winners was a horse with the name of a grandchild or a number with a grandchild's date of birth.
Well, in 1960 my grandparents booked a trip to Europe. That's the first trip I ever remember them taking. Good news and really,really bad news followed. Then won third prize in the Irish Sweepstakes while on the trip(that was the 1960 equivalent of today's lottery). My father and Uncle had to tell them they won $56,000 without triggering my grandfather's weak heart. That was accomplished, but a few days later, while boarding a bus to Monte Carlo(something he always wanted to see), my grandfather died of a heart attack.

My grandmother had a stroke a few months later, and all the winnings and far more went for her care for the next 5 or more years until she passed away. Hats off to my father and uncle Stan and Aunt Renee for the care they provided.

So count your blessings. And don't wait to travel, retire, etc. You never know when something bad might happen. We're not looking back, even if the stock market completely crushes us financially. Good advice to all.

Russ