Just a short note to wish a happy new year to all. I am somewhat amused to report that all is well and on schedule here in the boonies. It seems our small-ville powers that be decided midnight was just to late in day to have any kind of celebration.....SO... we were treated to our fireworks display quite promptly at 7:00 P. M. Oh yes, just as David and I are about to sit down for a lovely dinner, we heard something that surely rivaled the bombing of Baghdad. Obviously shaken by this, I went outside to see where all the firing was coming from and /or hitting. I soon discovered that bombs were not being dropped; it was only the local fireworks display. I admit it, I forgot...you see when you live here you have to get all activities that require you to actually be outside of your home completed in a manner that allows everyone to be home and tucked in bed by eight o'clock in the evening. Apparently the only exception to this rule is for those of us who actually have jobs which may in some way require us to serve our fellow Smallvilians ( oh yes, you know who we are...nurses, cops, firemen, employees of the largest retail company in the universe). On behalf of all of us, I wish you a happy new year. Go...Party..Have fun...Enjoy...We'll be here when you get back.

There was a story in our local newspaper yesterday regarding a two year old who was missing. It seems she was riding with her father when he decided to stop and visit with a friend who was stopped by the side of the road. About an hour later, he discovered she was missing. Local law enforcement was called; people all over the county dropped what they were doing and went to join the search. Almost two hours later, she was found, asleep, unharmed, not a hundred yards from where she was last seen. Her mother gave this statement to the newspaper"God really does answer prayers". Now, my question is.....Would it not have been much better if this father had given some thought to his child's welfare instead of leaving her well being up to God and the people who did care enough about his child to drop all their affairs and rush to her aid? Some people just should not have children. This man is surely one of them.