Check me out!!!

Hi Linda, did you do it?? Oh, I am so excited your daughter is coming home. What does she do that she travels to such wonderful places!! I'm done with my secret santa shopping and am going to the post office today to mail!! What fun!! So my person should be on the look out for her package by early next week. love donna

heyyyyyyyy my youngest daughter, Erin (she's 20) is a junior at American University in DC. When she graduated high school she graduated #2 in her class of 1,165 kids. She was given full scholarships to several universities and chose American in DC. As part of their program they have a huge study abroad department. She decided that she would take this year and go learn about life in Europe...she left in August for Italy...she is studying at John Cabot University in Vatican City, Rome. While she was there she would do "weekend" travel - there is no school on Friday in Italy - she went to Paris, Prague, Amsterdam, Istanbul and Athens as well as traveled all over Italy. She said that if there are 2 places that everyone should see they are Venice and Athens...I am so jealous of what she has done and so happy that she was given this opportunity..when she was planning where to study she and 3 of her best friends from school chose the same places so they are together (makes mom more comfortable knowing that she's not completely alone in a foreign country)...she is having the experience of a lifetime and still (thank God) maintaining her grades. I can't wait to have her home if even just for a month! She called me yesterday in tears .. she is FINALLY home sick () - 8 more days and she'll be back in America and back with me! - she said that there is no way we can truly appreciate what we have here until we leave it and live elsewhere for several months - she will really appreciate being HOME (with mommy!! ) She will be studying at Dublin University in Ireland from January til the end of May and I'm sure having many more experiences and traveling all over the place...good for her!! Love, Linda oh and psssssssssss - my gift is leaving tomorrow - it just needs to be wrapped tonight! hugsssssssssss

Linda, how very exciting for her!! What an experience of a lifetime. She will have all these wonderful travel memories for when she settles down and gets in the drudge of things!! She's lucky. So is there ever a chance she will come back to DC and you will come and visit!!! How awesome would that be. I would love to meet you in person Linda. And of course anyone else that travels out here. Take care, and talk to you later, love donna

actually I come to DC all the time when she's there in school - she won't be back to D****il Sept 2007 but when I come down I will make sure to let you know! I would LOVE to meet you have a wonderful weekend! Love...Linda

If you ever get to my area -- or anywhere near -- let me know. You got a date!! And we'll get the lovely Miss Courtney to join us as she is nearby as well. love donna

Donna, that is so cute. I love it. I wish I knew how to do that stuff. I can't get my printer to scan anything. Love, Koukla p.s I printed out your post about salaries for my daughter. right now she's going for her masters and she and I both have the lower salary mentality. So she was so happy to read that. We're always afraid to "rock the boat". thanks

Hi back at you!! I am not a scanner, but I use a digital camera and save to my computer and do it that way. Do you do that -- if so you can just take a picture that you're in, crop it to just you, and save it under a new name, and then when you do it it says upload photo and you go to the picture thingy and upload it. I am glad that the salary info was helpful. By the way, just for your information, I took my own advice when I was working and consequently when I quit, I was making more money than I thought possible!! So don't be afraid to rock the boat. Like I said, you usually won't lose a job because of what you ask if you have the education and experience. What doesn't work is if you dont have either of those and ask for lots of money. Also -- here I go again on a rant!! -- if you ask for a high amount and they said 'well that is a little more than what we were planning on paying' your comeback is 'well I would consider a smaller salary if you would consider a signing bonus of xx and to be reviewed in three months (or six) rather than a year' and then name it. It's a game, and big businesses don't fret over it. Now if you're with a smaller company it pays to work with them (signing bonus, etc). Okay enough of that but as I've said you can see what I loved employment counseling. It was a lot better than dealing with 'frat boys' and their silly ***** on the computer at work!! Give me a break -- did you really think yu could print out on the department printer a naked Barbie doing it and no one would pick it up before you!! Ha ha --- silly boys. love donna

That is really funny. You are such a good dancer, Donna! Amy

Hi Amy, by the way, I read your post on anxiety, and I think you are right. I hear and read alot about transferring addictions, etc. after wls. Thanks for this post about my dancing!! Yeah, I rock out!! love donna

hi little rocker! yes the whole transferring addictions is fascinating to me, especially now, i can appreciate it and understand it. when you no longer have food to use as your coping mechanism to deal with stress and anxiety, i can see why people turn to alcohol or other addictions when food can no longer be their crutch. fascinating, and something i won't forget any time soon. happy holidays! amy