Hi everyone,

Lisa -- I'm sorry to hear about your brother's problems. It can get ugly when there are kids involved and unfaithfulness. I hope you two are close enough to talk. I would also say, one meal in 21 isn't bad either. I have that DVD and when we finish shoveling out the basement bedroom -- its not done yet, that will be the first thing I watch.

Melissa-- the talk was on using extensible markup language as a way to transfer data from a native file format to a more geographic information system format and how the use of such standards can make data transfers for data managers and end users more facile. Pretty boring stuff, but useful as all sorts of environmental data from sensors can be wrapped in xml. Apparently someone from the governing European Union body was in the audience and asked some questions, but we managed to answer most of them.

I hear you on busy.

Susan -- you rock in your ability to get down with the program. Kudos.

Pam -- thinking light thoughts your way.

I am finding putting an emergencee (those fizzy packets of vitamins) in my first water helps me get the first 32 oz down.

Okay, I'm here today and then leaving tonight at 9 pm for San Diego for an one day meeting on data models. Fun, fun, fun. At least I get to see my parents for breakfast.

I fly home tomorrow night. I want to stay longer, but the cat is going to the acupuncturist with the dog and its too much for DP to deal with herself.

So, here's my question: My parents want to give me a really nice bd party for my decadal in 6 weeks. I figure about 4 of 5 friends from the east coast will be attending and they are being really generous --nice restaurant downtown, catered, flowers ... I'm feeling stressed -- is something like 60-80 bucks per person too much to spend? This includes drinks etc.

I have a 25 page paper due the week afterwards, so I can't think too hard on planning and the rest of the weekend. I wish we had thought of this earlier... or should I postpone until a month or something later than the week of my bd?

any help or advice would be great.

lala

lala, just go ahead and have the party. It should be fun. Wow! Your friends will fly in from the east coast for your birthday? $60 per doesn't sound too bad. That's really nice of your parents. I hope the restaurant is nice. Have fun in SD.

It's very rainy and gloomy in Florida today--yuck! What plans do you have for the weekend? Tonight DH and I are going to see The King's Brass--they're a nationally known brass group with a Christian message. They're very entertaining. On Saturday we're going to a play that includes many of my actor friends, "The Man Who Came to Dinner." Not much else is planned; will probably watch some football.

Lots going on this weekend for us--DS #2 has a b-ball tourney through tomorrow. I'm working at WW this evening and am hoping that I get to sleep in a little tomorrow but we'll see.

I went to the doctor today and was told I have a thoracic/cervical sprain. I've got some anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxers to help with the spasms. Hopefully it'll help. I have another appointment on Tuesday with a PT person and follow up with the doc. Long weekend for us--no work on Monday I'm looking forward to a quiet day (hopefully).

I'll check back later. Have a great weekend everyone!

Lala: My 2 cents on the party--I say go for it, it'd be perfect for some stress relief.