Good reminder from Gloria

Time passes
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT.........
Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.
Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on to all the women who help make your life meaningful. I just did.

There are more than twenty angels in this world.
Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds. Nine are playing. And one is reading her email at this moment.

Marshall Reunion, Sept. 08

[from Elaine thru Sonia]

The reunion date is Sept. 26, 08. Friday and Saturday again. Leslie is already getting calls out trying to find other names and addresses. I am afraid it is a bit early, but he is doing all the work.

Books, Movies

Ladies, keep sending your recommendations for books to read, movies to see. I'll get them into some order and eventually send out a list. Maureen

NC Pottery

Maureen's favorite pottery haunt, remember?
Loretta took this pic at this pottery place.

RAIN!!

Solid rain for 3 days; we're up almost 6 inches. Just a foot to go!
Soggy and contented, Maureen

Group pics

CA Fires

I got e's from both John and Diane yesterday that they are in a valley between fires, are ok. They live in Chatsworth, CA.
Maureen
p.s. still hot and dry here, current early morning temp. is 75 degrees.

Testing News

[this is from a fellow ESL teacher]

The state public education department cannot seem to adopt a statewide test for more than 5 years. School districts statewide have used the tests (TABS, TEAMS, TAAS, and now TAKS).

Therefore, San Antonio school districts have adopted a test that better fits the public education in their city. The new instrument will be the Texas Assessment of Cognitive Operations (TACO). It will have a remedial version (Soft TACO), a regular version (Hard TACO), and an advanced version with many more pages (the Gordita). It will be graded on the standard bell curve (the TACO Bell ).

Districts receiving the lowest scores will be put on probation with a Basic Educational Appraisal-Not Satisfactory (BEANS). A second low rating earns the dreaded supplemental Remediation Factor for Individualized Education Deficits (REFRIED BEANS).

This rating system is expected to cause a lot of hot air at campus faculty meetings.

South TX: New Environmental Heartland

http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/10/17/55719/633/?source=weekly

Maureen, Carley, Gray

My two kids (the 'wound' is Carley's stage make-up)

Loretta, Weymouth's Biggest Longleaf

Sonia back home

Let everyone know I'm home: Sunday night Oct. 21. A 12 hour drive from Mesa and uneventful. Crossed Hoover Dam and right through Vegas and into Utah--beautiful mountains with snow. Bucked a 40-50 mph wind all day which means I used too much gas. Tired, Later ladies. Love, Sonia

From Vicki

April in Houston at Gloria's house sounds good! Hope everyone enjoyed the pictures I had saved all these years.

Trouble with Blogger Pics

Blogger is working on their uploading procedures for photos, some sort of problem. . . Soon, though, we should be able to see one another's pics. If you want to send some now, I can house them on my computer and blog them later.
Thanks! Maureen

Madelyn's address, Hawaii, etc.

This looks like a yea from Madelyn. Sonia

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joe DOlive
Date: Oct 18, 2007 1:50 PM
Subject: Re: Sonia here
To: Sonia Hausmann < simplegreen.utah@gmail.com>


Hawaii-WOW!! it's sure something to think about. I live in Fort Worth, so I'm close to DFW, the Atlanta of the Southwest. April in Houston would be great--only about 5 hours away! Thanks for forwarding my email about the blog to Maureen. Stay in touch, Madelyn


Dear Core Group, as I send out these blogs, you can gather up e-addresses and let me know who else is missing/interested in getting blogged.
Send me anything you want to post to the group: pics, recipes, list of great books/movies, articles, WHATEVER, and I'll try to keep up.
It was my extreme pleasure to have you all visit me here in NC. We are excellent, competent women comfortable in our genuine skins. Cheers!! Maureen

Connections/Reconnections

Loretta and I are here trying to create a blog for us. These are bare bones so far. Send any info you want to share--especially pics of you and yours.
We'll continue trying to locate our buddies to include in this listing as this endeavor grows.
Part of this endeavor includes future plannings for get-togethers. For example, our next venture will be to Houston in April, Gloria's house.
Much more to follow. . .

Cheers, Y'all!