Humblest Apologies

**Timidly Peeks Head from Around Corner**

Hello??
Anyone there??
Yeah - that is what I thought.

I wish that I could give you all a good reason for being gone this long. And frankly, nothing as dramatic as:
"taking a sabbatical to work on a kibbutz in Israel"
"donating time to assist in the massive natural disasters"
"temporarily moved to canada after the election to get over it."
Although in all fairness, each of those would have been good.
Nope, I have been wandering in the real world through the muck and mire of work, family crisis, travel & the holidays.
Surprised myself by making it thus far unscathed...at least noticeably unscathed.

So here is a high level break down (by month for your convenience) of things that have been going on:

October:
Meghan continues to talk to David (aka St. Louis) quite a bit. Gets to know each other quite well.
Mom decides on treatment for cancer that includes experimental program that will avoid -- at least for right now -- any chemo, radiation etc.
Tons O' Birthdays this month. Lots of little get togethers to attend to wish everyone well.

November:
Meghan gets the job of telling grandma about mom's cancer. dreads visit, and she takes it like a champ. People totally underestimate you (myself included) when you are 88 years old.
Spend a few days in total shock that a un-popular president, still fighting a war that fewer and fewer people are supporting manages to win an election because people were more afraid of two men being able to legally marry than any concern for the state of their country, the safety of its people and the perception of the US worldwide.
Nate and Martine get married on St. Lucia -- I did not go to the wedding. Tropical paradise is NOT kind to single people.
Patrick gets a surprise 10 day R&R pass to come home. Spend a few days back home hanging out with him and getting the scoop about life in Iraq. Turns out -- as most of you would guess, -- you really don't WANT to know about the day to day life in Iraq. Or hear your little brother discuss the number of confirmed kills he has had. Or hear about the day he got his Purple Heart. Just gets a little , really A LOT, disturbing.
Have the first actual date with the boy from Saint Louis. Goes very well -- he came to DSM for the record.
Thanksgiving with the family. Ate too much, drank too much and saw just enough of the aforementioned family to get me through the next 6 months or so.

December:
Go to Saint Louis for a visit.
Franklin comes back to DSM for a visit. Tells us all he is engaged -- Beth is with him. Good times.
Holiday parties ensue.
Christmas shopping -- need I say more.
Julie & Scott bought a condo in DC.
Heather moved to Chicago officially.
David comes up here for a brief visit just before Christmas.
Spend Christmas with 20 of my family members on my mom's side. Ate too much, drank too much and saw enough of them to get me through the next 12 months. Or so it would seem.
Go to Saint Louis for New Years.

And that should bring us somewhat up to speed.
Work is totally insane. I am going to California in two weeks for a little wine vacation. I was totally excited about it, as David was going to be coming with. But due to work schedules being unbendable, he will not be going with. So, I will be -- per the usual -- the like 13th wheel for this whole she-bang. I mean, it will still be a blast. But we had rooms at a B&B in Napa -- that i am going to feel slightly foolish in with just myself. Not to mention that my budget has now just doubled. Woot.
Which I love. For the record.
I am sure there are other things. But that should give you the highlights.
I should return to work. MUCH to do. Although, motivation is a little lacking. I have been doing some work at home every night and get more done in an hour there -- than like 4 hours here.
Narf.