This 'n That

Chris & David have offered the use of the cafe for our Christmas Eve gathering this year. The change is an effort to bring back to the fold Adrian's family. They had broken away about 8 years ago saying that the gathering was getting too big. I think they felt squeezed. The cafe will offer lots of room to spread out, and David closes at noon on Christmas Eve, anyway.

Tony and I have submitted authorization for a background check for STS (exchange student program). We didn't have to do any such thing for any of the other students we've had here, but I guess I'm glad that it's done, just unfortunate that it's necessary at all. We continue to communicate with Guilia via Skype. She's e-mailing to the High School to prepare her course of studies, anticipating receiving a diploma from NRHS. To qualify for a diploma, she'll need to pass the MCAS (Massachusetts state exam). They have similar exams in Italy, but she'll be taking it in English. Fortunately, she already speaks English wonderfully, so I really don't anticipate that she'll have much difficulty. Our home will definitely have a whole wonderful new atmosphere during the '09-'10 school year.

I'm working at the polls on election day, checking in voters from 7 am to 5 pm. The town clerk is expecting a huge turnout, she says maybe as high as 90%. Schools are closed that day. During the last election (a state election 2 years ago) I couldn't find a parking space, finally parked in an unmarked spot on the grass. After many complaints from others on the parking issue, the schools and town officials got together when planning the calendar for this year. (Upton votes at Nipmuc, Mendon at Miscoe).

We had only 12 kids for Trick or Treat last night...in 2 groups. I had made big chocolate cookies in the shape of kitty's faces, using candy corn for eyes and a red-hot for nose. Then I wrapped them in clear lollipop bags and tied them with orange and black curling ribbon.

Steve, Dad and I are heading out in a little while for the BC/Clemson football game. We have glorious weather today, sunny and in the high 40s (by kick-off time at 3:30).

Bill Lee was home for the weekend and has requested that we try to schedule a North family reunion before his next deployment (he'll be returning to Iraq or Afghanistan) at the end of the winter. We thought of Alex also heading out somewhere around the same time as Bill. Bill has said that he doesn't think he's ever met or seen the next generation of our clan. So, Sue and I threw around some ideas. First of all, we need to see if we can get folks to gather at some common time. Our first date for consideration will be the Saturday after Christmas (27th). We just need first to find out if this is possible before proceeding with plans. The next possible date would be the 3rd week in January, but I'm afraid that college students will all have returned to campuses by then. This isn't ground-in-stone. This is a pretty big clan to gather and the logistics will be cumbersome, to say the least. At least we're trying.