Oh, you guys are the best! Really, I'm getting all teary here. Claudia, you're right, it would be great to get together for lunch or martini's or something (or howzabout one of Todd's Cosmos?) ;) I really appreciate the care and kind words you've all expressed in here. It's so meaningful. I haven't been in here all that long, and you guys have just embraced me. Thank you!

I'm going to keep plugging away at my current job, and keeping my eyes open for something better. And I do try to stay focused on what's important. The reality is, no matter how tense and uncomfortable my days at the office are, I realize I am far more fortunate than so many even just to have this job, and to have all that I have in general.

And while my kids can be hugely challenging, I am so lucky to have them at all. I don't think I've mentioned before just HOW lucky we are -- as I was unable to bear children, my DH and I adopted our two as infants. And they are both from the same birth-parents, so they are 100% siblings (long story!). This has definitely brought a set of challenges, and sometimes they seem a little overwhelming, but I try to remind myself how fortunate we ALL are to have each other.

Anyway, yes it does help to have this cruise in the not-too-distant future, and to have this place where I can obsess about the details, read and live along with others' cruise experiences, and just have a fun place to yakk with people who enjoy the same things I do.

Well, I'm off to go try to nail some jello to a tree. ;) Thanks for brightening my day!