Laura's mention of Otter Lake just sent me off on a search for a lake somewhere around here where we could spend a few days with our tent.

I am by no means someone who camps wrinkles nose in distaste but I have friends who do. Want I should ask?

Raq, when does Robert catch back up with you guys?

Speaking of cheesecake, they have this thing here called a quesito. It's a pastry filled with creamcheese and it has a sort of sweet, crunchy outside. It's probably a million calories, but very delicious.

Want I should ask?

Sure!

Speaking of cheesecake, they have this thing here called a quesito. It's a pastry filled with creamcheese and it has a sort of sweet, crunchy outside. It's probably a million calories, but very delicious.

No, I'm sure it's healthy and chock full of calcium.

Ok. I could use some help. I just got an e-mail back from the prof overseeing the tutoring seminar/program. She's wondering if, since we're both swamped with end of the semester stuff, if we could do this over e-mail. So, could you guys give me your thoughts about this e-mail?

I am primarily wondering about the structure of the program and the seminar. Let me break that down a bit into the questions that are running through my mind (and some of these may be answered by other questions).

*Is there a syllabus for the seminar that I could see? This actually may answer all of or most of the following questions.

*Is the seminar primarily a training course? Or, how much training do we receive?

*Could you tell me a little about the philosophy of the overall program? I have some ideas, based on things you said in the interview, but I think it would be helpful to have it stated for me. I sense that my process is very different than the one you suggest or employ. I want to make sure that if I sign on as a tutor that we are on the same page in ideas--or can get to that same page. And part of this goes back to the training question. I want to be the most effective tutor I can be, and I am certain that you and this program know how to help me do that. I guess I'm mostly wondering the "how" part of how you do that.

I take my commitments very seriously. Since you offered a place in the class to me, it is clear to me that you think we can be on the same page. Understanding more about the program would be very helpful for me at this point.

edited to show I can spell.

I didn't mention this last week, because, well, Hubby surgeries, so last season. But he had his right shoulder scoped and roto-rootered last Wednesday and yesterday was his follow-up visit. And I got to see my husband get as close to Squee! as I think I'm ever going to see him.

A couple of lifetimes ago, he was a wildland fire fighter, and a burning tree fell on a member of his crew. He was told to wait for proper equipment before trying to get the guy out. But, well, crew member plus tree plus burning equals Hubby taking matters into his own hands, literally. He grabbed an upright tree with one hand, grabbed the fallen tree with the other and turned himself into a human winch while the others dragged the guy out. The guy survived with minimal burns, Hubby's shoulders became mincemeat.

Fast forward to yesterday, and Doc is rotating Hubby's repaired arm. Hubby says, "Wait a minute, Doc," and he slowly rotates his arm in another direction, his eyes getting bigger and bigger. Doc says, looking a bit smug, "I take it that's better?" Hubby: "Doc, I haven't been able to move my arm that far in thirty years."

I catch him every now and then raising his arm or rotating his arm, wincing slightly--he did have surgery a week ago--and then grinning. Finally, a surgery that actually fixed something and made it better, rather than just repairing something that won't last.

Yay for recovering, Connie.

vw, I think that email is pretty clear.

That e-mail looks good, vw.

It doesn't scream, "You suck!", right?

no, not at all.