Sorry I haven't been around much since coming home but this last one took a lot out of me and strength-wise I am just now starting to really come back. On the other hand as I do begin to feel better, it is a stronger and better feeling than I have had in many years. I am sleeping better and longer than I have in ages and I'm doing a sleep apnea study in Feb to see if we might increase even this as well. So much for apologies.............

Once again I have to send a giant thanks to all of you for your thoughts and kind words as they surely made a difference. Some of you I am contacting over the next few weeks for a few private words of thanks for acts over, above, and beyond.

And now........

HAPPY NEW YEAR

to one and all. We're doing very little for the eve but will be having a great day tomorrow with Connie and Wayne. We look forward to a good year and one of challenge for both Karen and myself. I want to start some new exercise and walking rehabs and Karen will join in after she recovers from her own surgery coming up on January 9.   Yep......It has taken a year of dancing through hoops and testing but Karen will be having Bariactric by-pass surgery. She is having the complete surgical procedure as opposed to the laproscopic because although the initial operation takes a bit more rehab time, the success rate and lack of problems later makes this a better option. We really believe that this will give Karen her life back in many ways and assure our kids will have an "active" mother, or indeed, a mother at all........yeah, it's that serious.

So 2006 holds some great things for us and I can only hope it does for you as well. The best of all things to you and yours from Karen and I for the best of all New Years.

Spaw