HI - I'M SORRY FOR DISAPPEARING.

Everything is fine here; the Traveling Doll is doing fine and is looking forward to her trip to Arlington with Kirsten this coming weekend. We're having a Halloween party of sorts this week as well.

My mom had a bout with pneumonia which, as you can imagine, had us all on edge for about ten days; I'm sure we all made it more serious than it was. I lost my cell phone somewhere while traveling for work earlier and have only now just gotten a new one. As difficult to believe as I know it is, I haven't checked my Yahoo email in forever because I've spent most of the last three weeks on the road for work (I work in RTP for a company that runs drug trials for drug companies) and have been on the road AND going to school. On weekends I come home, sleep, do laundry, and hit the road again.

Fortunately my schedule HAS FINALLY SETTLED DOWN (I have been covering clinical sites in three states for personnel that are no longer with my company) and I hope to resume some sort of normal life again.

My mom, who is 100% back and healthy again, is going to Arlington with me this coming weekend (my first real weekend in about three weeks) and we are taking Kirsten and the traveling doll. I have an arrival album but have not had time to post it.

I have only now realized how long it's been since I've been away AND I DO APOLOGIZE. Unfortunately, with a sick mom, an unreal (bordering on inhumane) schedule, and a husband working and living overseas - it seems as though WHEN IT RAINS at my house, it's a DELUGE.

I couldn't check voicemail because the stupid cell provider LOCKED my account to outside access when I reported my phone missing (I think I left it in the Denver airport bathroom - no kidding). LAURA - I AM HERE - I just checked my VM this morning for the first time in a month and I will call you tonight!

I'm sure all of you think I am just ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, but I assure you I'm not; I've just had one heck of a year and cannot wait until it's over and behind me. 2005 has really been the Annus Horrilibus in the House of Brewer, to quote the Queen.

On the lighter side, I've dressed in Edwardian garb today at work to get in the spirit of the holiday, and to celebrate the fact THAT MY LIFE SHOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL NOW.

I must get home for trick or treaters now! I will log on later - I finally have NOTHING TO DO, no plane to catch, and no test to cram for (at least for this week, anyway).