kidsmoke

That's pretty funny to think about now!

And I felt so bad about that, Drew! We'd stopped to pay respects at the WTC site, that night, and didn't realize how long the drive to your place was. Ah, but it was another excellent hotel, with first-rate staff who wait up for you! We need to try this again under less frantic circumstances....besides, I have yet to meet the Lukester! Someday, someday soon, I hope. Yep, both directions, and as Drew will tell you, we had to carry baked potatoes in our pockets to keep our hands from freezing on the way! It's true! And some days we had no baked potatoes so we had to carry baked rocks.

Man, I was so sick on that trip that I shouldn't have even been there....started out with only a mild cough, but when I get bronchitis, I get it, like, instantly. When I came home after the 4 shows I had fullblown pneumonia! Oddly enough, in spite of that those 4 shows are some of my very fondest memories.....terrific concerts, and surrounded by great friends. I only wish I'd been well so I could've enjoyed it more, but it still ranks as one of my favorite outings. Brennan had an absolute blast. But yes....we spent much of the trip lost, thanks to our carefully printed out maps from the int

Well for shame! I liked your brief review! AND I even read that entire Plain Dealer piece, and enjoyed it!!!!!!!! (Uh oh, don't get me started with the exclamation points; they've been getting away from me today...) Ok, so first I offer you: :blush and I will follow with heartfelt: as well as and So, are we good? Apologies, ol' Tugger.

Happy Birthday, Isadorah!!! I am so embarrassingly late, but I know you'll forgive me because..... I BROUGHT CAKE! May the year ahead bring wonderful things! Like cake!!!

Vulture19, welcome to the wonderful, frequently wacky world of Via Chicago! We hope you'll enjoy our community! Thanks to you and to Leo for your reviews! It's the next best thing to being there. All the commentary and details paint such a nice picture for this slightly Wilco-deprived Californian! For vulture and for dear Leo (Hiya Leo! )

I saw Leafy Sea Dragons at the Long Beach, CA, Aquarium of the Pacific....they were very beautiful and fascinating!

.....just when you think you have the world mostly figured out!.....check out this cool video, and try not to scare the poor sea spiders any worse than they've already been scared by these noisy videocameras. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2008...s.sea.spider.ap

You and me both. But I'm happy they're having such fun with their back catalog!

Big changes underfoot.

But Jen, your avatar keeps flipping people off, so what do you expect?!

Ah, the lovely misses jackiepants and Frankie Freakout!

Right back atcha, Mr. Bed.

It hardly seems a secret I'm sure most people know A kidsmoke's mind's a traveller It's always on the go This might perhaps imply that A kidsmoke's mind is gone but never fear, it shall reappear before too very long.

Well I'm certainly not wasting poetry on the likes of you people anymore.

I think I met some people back in the mists of time I may have met some of you before I lost my mind

That's really cute! I love the colors.

Yes! Please do, Mel, and thank you so much for keeping us informed!

Thank you, Maudie, for all the work you put into this. You've made it easy for us to express our love for Natalie. Thanks to Kate and everyone else who helped. I love you guys.

Happy birthday Heidi! May the year ahead bring you all you deserve!!!

It's a Singer....marked way down so I couldn't resist! One of those with a crank you turn.....it looks fun and easy! We haven't even read the instructions yet, but I'll let you know. I think it's like the one sister sooie was using...?

YES!!! STRIKE that incorrect usage, Caliben!!! Thank you, Ms. Yvon, for providing supplies!

Hi Everybody, this is Alissa! Thanks a bundle! On my birthday I got presents and cake and ice cream and homemade tacos! I got shirts and a knitting machine and butterfly pajamas and a dvd and other stuff. It was a great birthday!!!! YAY!! Thanks lots!! xoxo Alissa

Well of course you can have a piece! Everybody can have a piece. A virtual piece. That's a great looking cake! Those things are hard....getting the decoration to look right. I'll bet your boy was crazy about it! It's worth all the effort to see their faces light up.

Happy Birthday, Ben!!! I hope someday we get the chance to meet. Until then, just party along the best you can. Alissa sends birthday wishes and says you have good taste in your date of birth! She doesn't mind sharing her day as long as you leave her stack of presents alone.