Good Morning Carolb and all,
I can hear the "holiday" excitment in your posts Carol. Sounds like you are getting ready and looking forward to it. Sarah, I'm sorry too, that the holiday isn't a good memory day for you, but I know of others who are the same way. And many times it doesn't even have to be an "anniversary" of a loved ones passing, but just a passing altogether that makes the holidays hard to get through.
Was thinking last night about how times have changes during the holidays. Used to be you never saw anything "Christmas" till the day after Thanksgiving. Families were closer, everything was closed, we gathered together, watched the parades, the ladies did thier thing in the kitchen, the men discussed the issues of the day or whatever and children played until it was time to sit down to a table laden with food and give thanks and eat and eat and eat. The stores opened the next day all decked out in Holiday finery and it was a magical time. People were usually off work and we went shopping and took in the sights and sounds of Christmas.
Now, families are scattered across the country, Christmas is in the stores before Halloween, and it overshadows Thanksgiving with it's commercialism. People are already decorating and even Christmas lights are on and Thanksgiving isn't even here yet. If families are able to gather, the day is spent getting the dinner ready, in between plotting the "Black Friday shopping lists of who is going to which store to get the bargains. And now many stores are getting on this Thanksgiving evening "Black Thursday" opening. So soon as dinner is over, things get cleaned up and by evening the ladies are out the door and heading for the mall to get in line with thousands of others to grab the bargains before they are gone. The holidays have turned into a frenzied mess. No wonder by the time Christmas gets here, people are all stressed out. And even for those who work in those stores, Thanksgiving is short if they have it at all. Doesn't it make you wonder how it's going to be in future years?
Well, got my annual checkup done yesterday. Now need to get those other "woman" things out of the way. The mammo and she wants me to get a colonoscopy done as well
I'm not really in favor of that, but I know others of you have done it, so I will jump on the bandwagon. I do have cancer running through my family, so it's best to be on the safe side.
Today I have a mandatory retraining seminar to attend as part of collecting unemployment. Then off to the store to pick up a few things and back home. Weather has been beautiful and is supposed to stay that way through Thanksgiving. Cool but nice.
Dawn, I will be interested to see how your WiFi antenna does for you. I'm looking into one that plugs directly into my computer and can pick up closer signals, even from inside the car if I want. There is a srouter upstairs from the unit I will be using next month, but my computer is not strong enough to pick it's signal up through the upper flooring and cement block walls. If I go outside and a bit toward where the router is located, then I can pick it up. But it's too cold for that this time of year. Sso I'm thinking if I have an antenna and it's by the window, it might bring it in for me.
Well, enought chatting for this morning. Off to check emails and get cleaned up, the day rolling and what not. Have a wonderful day all of you. If you are on the roads, please travel safe.
Yew had no choice abot starting new traditions--hard to go on as "normal" after losing yore loved one...And Kathleen, glad yew "passed the test"!!! 
Those kids of yores trying to keep "granny" off the road??? Thank goodness there are social service agencies to set them in their place 
Only a half day of school today, so I get to start my wkend early--probably start some major howse-cleaning for the coming holiday. My sis & her DH will be in town on Tews, so I'll have them over for pie-making on Wed, along with owr bro & a bottle or two of wine! She's the one who prodded me to get on the road in an RV! 
Wise little sis! To all, have a great day, be safe on the road & keep those loved ones close to yore heart!
Strength to find keep your way sorting through all the different directions/suggestions that are flying your way right now...
