Knitting in the Shadows

30 Days of Thanks - Day Twenty-Seven- Driving and Hotels

Today, I'm truly thankful for hotels.com, and for the gps on my phone.

I am/was driving home from the glorious Disney Trip (and truly delightful stop-over with my wonderful cousin in Atlanta), and pretty much gave up on the idea of making it home when Hotels.com came to my rescue -- twice over. The phone saved me repeatedly.

We over-slept (not surprising), and then found it hard to leave (such a short visit!), but had gotten on the road in time to make the anticipated ten hour drive and make it home by 10:30 or 11:00 pm.   That was before Chattanooga.  About 20 miles south of Chattanooga, traffic slowed to a crawl (why was this so familiar??).  So, I asked Kitty to look at the map, and we fussed a bit, and then we had a few minutes of parking on the highway... so I checked out the gps on the phone, and found a way to skip a big ol' section of I-75, and slip back onto I-24 a few miles past the junction.  Phone got us through town with no mishaps, other than the discovery that the traffic jam was still with us.

So, having noticed that we were running low on gas, we bounced right back off the highway after a stretch along the river where we occasionally made it up to 30 mph.  At the gas station, between Kitty and the map and the phone, we found another alternative, that got us onto Route 41 -- only one more stop down the road.  That detour was about the same mileage as I-24, through twisty mountainy roads with no traffic that let us trave at about 55.

Alas, the various delays and slowdowns were followed by rain.  Rain and dark and fog. And RAIN.  It took us well over six hours to get from Atlanta to Nashville. (According to Google Maps, that trip should have taken about four hours.)  The rain was not looking like it was going to let up. By 7:15 pm, I was fried.   There's something about driving where you have to focus so hard on where you're going that you can't take your eyes off the road long enough to read the signs that is more stressful than I like doing for very long.  When passing and trucks get involved (regardless of who is doing the passing), visibility goes to effectively nil.I was so tense from driving in the foggy dark rain that my knee and shoulders and back were starting to hurt. Suddenly, I just couldn't do it any more.  I pulled off at an exit with a gas station and not much else to recommend it, and just sat there for a few minutes.

So, there we were, about 45 minutes east of Nashville, with my phone now telling me I had 7 hours and 12 minutes left to get home.  I gave up.  Kitty took over the driving, and I distracted the magic phone from its GPS duties long enough to use its internet magic.  I searched for a hotel using hotels.com from my phone (!) and found one with an amazing deal ($28.00 for a room with 2 double beds, free breakfast, free internet in the room and free parking).  I then booked said hotel room using the internets on my phone while Kitty merrily drove along in the dark in the rain.  So, 1/2 hour out from the room, I'd booked it online from my phone! Yay phone.

Yay Hotels.com!

Then, Hotels.com called me.  Evidently the hotel that I'd booked was oversold (?!).  So they found me an alternate hotel (actually 3 blocks closer to the highway than the one I'd booked), also with free breafast (hot breakfast this time), free wireless internet in the room, and free parking.  They got me this room for the same price I'd paid for the previous one. 

YAY Hotels.com

When we arrived, the fellow at the desk had just finished setting up our reservation.  He was friendly and helpful and pleasant.  And our room -- has a refrigerator! (In fact, though the room is a tad smaller than our room at the fancy-pants resort in Orlando, I find it nicer.  This is by far the nicest Holiday Inn Express I've seen.

I'm so thankful to Hotels.com for being there and for following up and fixing the overbooking thing.

And I'm so thankful for my phone for making hotels.com available to me one the road!

 

 

30 Days of Thanks - Days Eighteen - Twenty Six

And wooooooosh.  Nine Days Flew by!

But each day brought something to be grateful for ...

On Day Eighteen, I was grateful to be able to enjoy lunch with Golf Pro.  It's a simple thing, but something about coming home for lunch is so very nice.  I'm sure there is more, but I didn't really take notes, and time has slipped by so that I've forgotten some of the things I noticed that day.

On Day Nineteen, I had some bonuses. First, there was me being thankful to my DH - Golf Pro.  He got up at o-dark-thirty to drive Kitty to school ,where she had to be at 6:45 a.m. to board the bus to the All District Music Festival. (Did I mention Six-forty-five in the morning??). I did get up to make sure that Kitty was up and had all her stuff, but then, I got to curl back up and go back to sleep.

Then there was me being thankful for the opportunity to hear my kid play in the All District Band.  (Yeah, it's one of those things where kids from all over the district have to audition, and they pick the best ones to play in this festival -- and yeah, I'm all proud and stuff).  That made a bunch of thankfuls all piled up into one place -- I'm thankful that we found, and were accepted by, such a wonderful teacher - who has taught Kitty so much with the Clarinet; I'm thankful for all three of her band directors, who have helped her grow as a player; I'm thankful we could afford the lessons and the clarinet ... etc.

***

On Day Twenty, there was shopping.  I'm thankful that we were able to find the jeans that Kitty needed at the first store we tried (I can tell stories about fateful trips during which store after store failed to yield any that fit).  I was also thankful that we were able to get all of the other things we needed for our (then) upcoming trip without having to drive all over town.  AND... I was grateful that my bank was open on Sunday, so I could get cash for the upcoming trip.

On day Twenty-One, I was thankful for flexibility:  Because of the flexibility of the system, we get the chance to re-take our quizzes in Anatomy.  I'd taken a quiz on Friday (the 18th) and not done as well as I'd hoped.  I got to re-take it ... and aced it.   I was also thankful that we're able to be flexible about celebration dates:  It let me take Golf Pro out to dinner for his birthday a day early.

On day Twenty Two, I was thankful that Kitty is so close to getting her license. The family was headed to Disney to see BookWorm perform with her marching band at the Disney Parade of Bands on Thanksgiving Day.  My birthday present to Golf Pro was a plan ticket, enabling him to by pass the 18 hour drive.  But that meant I had to do the driving -- except that Kitty was able to take over for several shifts along the way. Between us, we put in about 13 hours -- through fairly steady rain.  (Another proud moment -- watching her drive through dark, rain, and fog doing a pretty good job of it).  When we finally got to Tifton, Georgia, I was very grateful for the hotel I had booked ahead of time (and for the great price we'd gotten on the room).

On day Twenty Three, I was grateful for the relatively short distance between us and Epcot.  And then I was grateful that the day before Thanksgiving is not a heavy day for the theme parks, because we got an awesome parking space  -- no really, WALKABLE into the park! 

Later, I was grateful to find some of Kitty's friends wandering the park....

And I was grateful to find a place that we both wanted to eat ... and that the sandwiches were yummy.   And THEN, I was grateful for the ability to say "yep, we're done now" and just up and leave the park at least an hour before we would have had to leave to meet Golf Pro.  It was a liberating sort of feeling.  And then I was grateful for the nice soft bed and pillows that let me take a wee nap before Golf Pro's arrival.  There's nothing quite like a really comfy nap spot!

On day Twenty Four, I was grateful to be able to play at Disney with Golf Pro -- and to enjoy a ride with him that I had been prevented from going on when I went three years ago (it malfunctioned then).  I was even more grateful to be able to see my kid perform in a massive marching band performance at Disney's Hollywood Studio Park.   BookWorm's band magically meshed with five other bands to form one huge band that played right in front of the magic Mickey hat.  Despite having had pretty much only one three hour rehearsal as one group, they performed beautifully.  (yep, I cried.  I do that).  Then I was grateful for the park hopper pass that let us bail on Hollywood Disney (which park doesn't do much for me), and slide on over to Epcot -- where we really enjoyed the Soarin' ride (second link takes you to a you tube video -- doesn't do the ride justice).  I was grateful that Disney will rent you a wheel chair for only $12.00 a day (or $20 for two), since Kitty twisted her ankle, and found walking really painful. I was also grateful to be kitchen duty free.

And though this isn't about gratitude -- it was still fun to catch BookWorm having fun

On day Twenty  Five, I was grateful for a surprise seating at a restaurant at the Magic Kingdom that I was sure would be full.  I was delighted to find that our lunch experience included visits from favorite characters..

I was grateful to meet up with friends (chaperones for the band kids), to watch BookWorm and the rest of her band as they marched in a parade through the Magick Kingdom.  I'm very grateful that they're better marching band photographers than I am, as I'm likely to get a better picture that this one, which turns out to be the only shot I got of BookWorm ....

I was also grateful to have those friends join us for the rest the afternoon with us, enjoying Mickey's Philharmagic, and the Carousel of Progress before we headed over to Animal Kingdom for a party.  I was grateful that Kitty managed to meet up with friends again, and that we managed to meet up with our friends again as well.  I was very grateful that those friends rode Expedition Everest with Golf Pro (I seem to have lost my roller coaster fu, and would not have enjoyed it much).

On day Twenty Six, I was very grateful for a shuttle that took Golf Pro to the airport, and that we were able to get ourselves up and out early enough to reach Universal Studios before too many of the crowds had descended.  I was grateful for our timing in eating lunch before the crowds descended upon The Three Broomsticks, and for the chance to taste pumpkin juice and butter beer. I was very grateful to the server who graciously exchanged the shepherds pie (which Kitty truly disliked) for a chicken platter (which she loved and devoured).

I was grateful that Kitty and I share tolerance, and lack of it, for long lines.  I was grateful that Kitty and I also share a love for Dr. Seuss, and that we both recognize truffula trees on sight...

And that we were able to slip in (and enjoy) one silly ride in Seuss' Landing...

Finally, I'm grateful that despite abominable traffic on the Florida Turnpike (20 miles worth of 12 mph travel), we were able to reach Atlanta in one piece, and enjoy a lovely late dinner with my dear cousin Gail.

30 Days of Thanks - Day Seventeen - training and ice

Today, I am thankful for my physical therapist (and for the health insurance that covers his treatments so I can afford to go).

I'm thankful to be learning the exercises that help my hip (technically, my gluteus medius) become strong enough to do its job, and to have a place to do them that has the equipment that makes doing them easy.

I'm equally thankful to be learning the exercises that help my right shoulder both not hurt and be able to work.  Without it, giving massages would be pretty much impossible.  And again, I'm thankful for access to the machines that let me build up the strength in ways that don't hurt me (much).

And...

I'm thankful for the strong hands and detailed knowledge that lets my physical therapist  work through the knots and gristle and scar tissue in my hip and shoulder, so that the muscles can heal and become stronger.  While I ought to be thankful for my psoas muscle, I'd be more thankful if it didn't get knots in it, because working those out really hurts.  I am, however, very thankful that the knot that reared it's ugly head today has been exorcised.

And, when I' ve come home from P.T. sessions in which we address that psoas.... I'm really thankful for the ice packs that calm the muscles down again after that deep tissue work.

30 Days of Thanks - Day Sixteen - getting there and starting new

Whew... passed the halfway mark!

I've learned that, at least in its current configuration, my life is not conducive to DAILY blogging. So, I won't be trying that 365 posts game any time soon.

OTOH, I am also learning to be more aware of the good things in my life -- which is part of the point of this 30 days of thanks thing.   When you're pausing long enough to write about something positive every day (and trying not to repeat yourself too much), it not only makes you more aware of the good, it takes up some of the time you used to spend on the "stuff to gripe about."

So... on Day 16, I'm actually kind of thankful that the rules of the game do not say that each day you have to come up with as many things as the number of the date.  Not that there weren't plenty of positives about Day 16, just that I don't think I could name 16 things about the day without starting to sound horribly trite.

But, around here Wednesdays are "late start" days at school.  I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in having been thankful for the opportunity to sleep in a litte.  I rather like it when NO ONE in the house has to be anywhere before 9:00 a.m.

I'm also thankful that Golf Pro drives the kids to school on Wednesdays.  Normally, I drive them to school, and then head over to either MY school or Physical Therapy.  Every day but Wednesday, that works out fine because I don't have to be to school or to therapy at the same time they have to be at school. But on Wednesdays, we all start at the same time -- five miles apart.

And while I'm at it, I'm thankful that we have two (working) cars, so that we CAN have him drive the girls in one direction while I'm driving in the other direction.

There was bonus driving this week, because our Massage Theory & Practice class had a field trip -- to a brand new spa that just opened in town. It's so new that SpaFinder has no more information about it than its address, phone number, and list of treatments.   But what a list of treatments! WOWSA.  We've hit the big time folks.  We' ve got spa treatments in town that you used to have to go to the big city to enjoy --   They've even got the fancy new hydro-therapy facial machine that gives a facial I would love to try (if only it didn't come with the big city price tag that I can't afford).   But the treatment rooms are gorgeous -- I'd love to WORK there (almost as much as I'd love to be pampered there). 

And I'm thankful that we have such a place locally.  Both because I love to be pampered, and because that means that my new career field has promise locally.  Well.... AND because in these gloomy days of national economic unpleasantness, it's really good to see a business full of hope and positivity opening!

30 Days of Thanks - Day Fifteen and a new sock

It is the Ides of November.

And yesterday, it rained like the end of days.

But today, it was sunny and breezy and warm enough to go for nice long walk with a light jacket.  Today, I am thankful for the chance to get outside in the lovely weather ... (which makes me thankful not only for the weather, but for the Tuesday Schedule that leaves a nice big hole in the middle of the day).

I'm also thankful that one of my dear friends is also my neighbor, so we get to walk together on days like this!

And finally, I'm thankful that they make yarn crazy enough to let me produce wacky stripes for BookWorm without fighting ends -- and that she's happy with the plain knitting it produces.  I haz mindless knitting!

30 Days of Thanks - Day Fourteen and an FO

Once upon a time, I wrote a knitting blog.  I took pictures of my knitting in progress, and pictures of my finished knitted objects, and posted them for all to see.

In theory, this is still a knitting blog.  But alas, my camera's battery charger is still in hiding (something that I must fix within the next week, since the camera kind of has to go to Disney with us).  With no camera battery, there can be no good pictures.  And today, I've actually got something worth taking pictures of.

Today..... (being thankful for the camera in my phone)

I finished a pair of socks!

I am thankful that yarn does not spoil, and that stitches do not just fall off of needles when they've been there too long. This pair of socks has taken a truly frightening length of time to finish. 

No seriously. 

I cast on over a year ago! (okay, only, like, for days over a year ago, but still over a year ago).  At first, I thought I was going to make some fancy socks (Leyburn's), but in the end, I decided that I didn't much like the yarn in that pattern, so I frogged the sock and started over.  And then, I fussed over a toe up pattern, and made mistakes, and had to reknit the plain simple sock heels about five times...  And finally, FINALLY, I finished them.

I am also thankful that this yummy yarn (Merino & Tencel sock yarn  from Ellen's Half-Pint Farm) withstood all that frogging, and still looks lovely.

And I'm really thankful to be done knitting this particular pair of socks.

And..... I'm thankful for the new addition to my winter sock collection, expecially since one or two pair are dying beyond my ability to darn them.

30 Days of Thanks - Days Nine thru Thirteen

Oops.

Today, (day thirteen) I'm thankful for the patience of those around me. NO one has bugged me about not keeping up with my 30 days of thanks.

Yesterday, day twelve, I was thankful for wonderful friends who lure me out of the house to go shoe shopping when I don't need shoes.  I got to try on all sorts of lovely shoes, knowing I wasn't actually planning on buying any shoes.  That meant that should the perfect pair land in my lap, I'd win. But if no pairs worked, I'd not be disappointed.   I was also both disappointed and thrilled (and grateful) that the one pair of Finn's didn't fit quite right.  They were cute. They had great potential to be supportive enough that I'd not need my orthotic.  But they were $325.00!!!  (See, you only try those on when you're planning to not buy them). 

On Friday, along with millions of other Americans, I was thankful that all of the men and women who have ever worn a U.S. Military uniform served in the far too many wars and police actions in which America has taken part.  (Note, I'm not particularly thankful that we've taken part in some of them, but I appreciate the service rendered on behalf of us all).

On a more personal level, I was grateful that the girls had a day off school, so that I didn't have to get up early to drive them to school.  And then, I was thankful for a wonderful afternoon with Kitty, prowling in art supply stores and fussing about with frames and mats for some of her lovely art. 

On Thursday, I was thankful for my wonderful, gracious, beautiful mother.  It was her birthday, and though I was busy with Physical Therapy, and giving massages, and going to class all day, I thought of her all day.  I can't possibly describe just how lucky I feel to have had her as my mother -- to have had her love, and guidance, and patience, and wisdom.  And to still have it now.....

On Wednesday, I was thankful for the health insurance that is helping me pay for the medical tests and vaccines that I have to get as part of the process of becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist.  I was also thankful for the friends and brain magic that got me through another Muscle test.  (Okay, I admit it, I was also thankful that there aren't very many of those left -- memorizing muscles is getting old).

And now, I'm thankful for having caught up!

30 Days of Thanks - Day Eight - Stunt Bodies

As you know, if you've been reading this at all lately, I'm in a program to become a Licensed Massage Therapist.  While doing this school thing has slowed down my knitting production (and my blogging), it is a wonderful thing that I'm really glad I chose to do.

Among the challenges we face as Massage Therapy Students is the need to give massages every week as part of our homework.  And that means that we need to find people willing to get massages.

I know, I know, how hard can that be?  A free massage?  DUH.

And yet, until now, each week has not been a full massage -- just what we've learned so far.

And it's a massage that must follow a strict pattern, even if you need extra work on something, I'm not supposed to be varying from our routine until I've got it down really solidly (and can do it in exactly 60 minutes).

And... we're supposed to be working on different people each week, not the same ones over and over.  After a point, you run out of close friends and have to start asking people you don't know that well to trust you enough to take off their clothes and lie on your massage table with nothing but a sheet between them and the world -- and then let you touch them, and use them to learn on.

One of the people who has let me do this for her refers to her role as that of "stunt body".  I find that amusing (and so much less ominous than "victim"), and thus have adopted it.

I'm very grateful to all of the people who have trusted me enough to let me work on their bodies.  And I'm even more grateful to all of the people who have not only accepted the massages that I could give, but have given me constructive feedback.  And for those who have let me work on you more than once, your feedback on the learning process has been invaluable.  You've helped me learn so much!

and... I'm grateful in advance for those who will continue to let me learn, trusting me to give a good, safe, healing massage even though I don't have my license (and won't for close to a year).

I wonder... should we get T-Shirts?

30 Days of Thanks - Day Seven - Music

Today, I give thanks for music.

Music is a big part of my life -- and always has been.

We listened to classical music when I was a wee tyke.  Enough that I knew the difference between Beethoven and Bach and other when I was about three.

Since then, I sang in choirs; learned the guitar well enough to play in a guitar choir for a while; learned piano well enough to play a little and accompany holiday caroling; and win roles in musicals.

In college, I went to concerts of the loud variety, and listened to records, and then CDs so much that you could pretty much know that if it was silent in my room, I was either gone, or asleep (though music sometimes played when I slept).

Now, I make less music (though I sing in the car all the time), but enjoy listening to it still.  In the past week, I've had the pleasure of taking my mother to hear my daughter play in a band concert, and of being escorted by my husband to hear the Eroica Trio play Beethoven with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (or, in English).  Two very different concerts, both thoroughly enjoyable (at least for me).

I have tried to imagine life without music, but can't get there.  It's too sad and stark.

But life with music -- is a good thing.

 

 

30 Days of Thanks - Day Six- Electricity

Last night, on night six, I sat with my parents (yay family) enjoying Masterpiece Theater (yay BBC), and intermittently wondering at the nightmare folks in Connecticut are dealing with.

I'm thankful both for the many things that electricity lets me enjoy (the lighter on our stove, the refrigerator, the pump that pushes water through our pipes, the washing machine, the dishwasher, the TV, this computer, the cell phone I recharge at night, the stereo, my alarm clock, the thermostat that tells my furnace to go on, .... etc. etc.) and the fact that this week, our electricity is working just fine thank you.

I'm also thankful for the many things electricity makes possible in our community: the emergency phone system that means 911 will get you the police dispatcher -- and her radio that lets her send an officer right away.  The emergency equipment in our hospitals.  The traffic lights that keep folks from killing themselves at intersections.  The movie theater, the grocery store, the yarn store ....

Yeah .... electricity.  Thank you for being here!

 

 

30 Days of Thanks - Day Five - the BBC

I know.

Being thankful for a TV station seems a bit, well, lame.  But I am thankful for the BBC.  And for Public Television stations who bring BBC programming to TV's near me.

Yes, I am delighted to have access to Dr. Who, but that's not why I'm thankful.

I'm thankful because the BBC has brought laughter into my home (and my mother's home) for years. 

When I was in high school (lo these many years ago), we watched Monty Python's Flying Circus every Sunday evening.  You may argue that this has warped me beyond recognition, and that may be the case.  But it also meant that there was laughter -- and laughter that was inspired by non-sexual, mostly non-violent things to boot.  (The Cheese Shop for example).

Later, I'd sit with my mother and giggle over Are You Being Served.

As a grown up, I've shared the fun of Coupling with several friends (and still can't quite say or read the word "breasts" the same way anymore).

But it continues to deliver laughter....

Last night, it was As Time Goes By, (with Judi Dench!), Waiting For God, Keeping Up Appearances, and -- a new one for all of us -- Black Books (which was hilarious, but might not stand the test of time).

BBC has also brought more serious, even educational shows (The Wives of Henry the Eighth, for example).

But mostly, it's the laughter.

Thank you BBC.

 

30 Days of Thanks - Day Four -- Family

This morning, my mother, my step-dad, my husband and I went to the grocery store. Together.

Seemed a bit silly, you know, four people to shop for supper?  And yet, it was fun.

and this evening ...  my mother cooked dinner for us all.  It's not a holiday, but it felt like one because the whole family sat around the table together and enjoyed the food and each other.

We dont' get in-law jokes around here much -- because  my husband enjoys his in-laws.  I enjoyed my mother-in law before she died. 

I'm so thankful for my family, and for the way we enjoy each other.. 

30 Days of Thanks - Day three -

I'm thankful for learning.

Yesterday, I learned the last sequence in our full hour massage.

For months now, I've been reveling in learning something new almost every day.  It's fun broadening my mind, thinking new thoughts in new ways -- and finding ways to tie those new thoughts, that new knowledge, into what I do, who I am, and all that I know....

I'm thankful too, for having a mind that loves to learn!  And for a world that will always have more for me to learn. (How cool is that!)

 

30 Days of Thanks -- More Support

Here we are on day two of Thirty Days of Thanks.

Already I'm going to be repetetive.  Sorry about that.

Today, I'm thankful for the continued support of my friends.  In particular, my knitting buddies.

Each week, a group of friends comes by to visit and knit with me.  Over the course of this semester, I've slowly (okay, not so slowly) intruded on the knitting conversation by having these friends quiz me on muscles for the quizzes that I have to take the next day.  Their generosity in sharing our chatting, gossiping, fun time with boring muscle quizzing astounds me.

And best of all, that generosity has yielded a gift of a perfect score on that quiz most weeks, and on the rare imperfect score -- I'm still getting A's.

Without that weekly study help, I'd not be doing nearly as well.

THANK YOU Knit Buds!!!

 

30 days of thanks -- Amazing Support

There's this thing going around -- Thirty Days of Thanks.

I've been thinking lately that spending a little time each day remembering what we're thankful for in our lives might not be a bad thing to do, as a matter of course.  And then, up comes this idea that folks seem to have about blogging (or posting) a thing to be thankful for each day for this month in which Americans celebrate Thanksgiving.  So, not only am I going to try to think of at least one thing a day, I'm going to make it public.

I think.

Today is double-whammy day, since I didn't discover this fun until this morning. It means I'll blog twice today.  I'll be blogging twice becasue I want each days' thanks to have it's OWN blog.  I even feel a little bit bad for shortchanging November 1's thanks by the introduction.

November 1 - I'm thankful for the amazing support that I have from family and friends who are encouraging and helping me with this new endeavor of mine.  In particular, I'm thankful for the unparalleled generosity of my mother, whose birthday present to me arrived today (Nov. 1), and my massage school -- pretty much for the same thing.

During the first week of class, the director of my massage school lent me a massage table.  It's a lovely table, with a nice 2" foam pad and a very adjustable face cradle.  It came in a truly awesome carry case that has wheels!  Without that generosity, I'd not have been able to get in all the practice massages that I've been doing every week since.

Today, I'm returning that table because, thanks to my mother's gift, I'm now the proud owner of a wonderful massage table of my very own.  It's an upgrade from the one I've been using so far -- it has a three inch pad, which is good for the person receiving the massage.  It has a piano hinge, which is good for stability and durability.  And it has not one but two screws at each leg to tighten them after height adjustments, which is good for stability, durability, and keeps the table from squeaking.

Today, I'll be giving a massage on my own table with real bolsters -- no longer faking it with couch cushions.

And... today, when I work on my client's feet, I'll be sitting on a  real chair,.  One that is the right height, and is on rollers, so I can shift as I need to and not torque my body around.

This morning, I feel like a real massage therapist.  And I'm thankful.  Without my mother's generosity, and my friend's trust, I'd not be here.