The Fabulous B@ker Blog

My pal Sue is en route from Virginia for our annual girl's weekend - the one weekend (Friday night, really) a year that I actually drink a little beer (and eat a lot of snacks). This year we're heading to 1,000 Acres Ranch outside of Lake George. There will be six of us, and Sue is the only holdout for riding a horse (she claims it's because someone needs to take the picture; I told her that's what the shirtless ranch hands are for). We'll have to see how it goes...I'm sure it will be fun...I hope there aren't too many families with young children around...

There are a couple of new (fur) faces around the neighborhood. First is Scout (on the left, with his brother, Tim, and Jasper), a 12-week old Golden Retriever who is very very afraid of Jasper (they call him "The Turtle" when Jasper tries to play with him because he rolls on his back and forms into a ball). Next, is Maize (obviously, on the right!), a 10-week old English Shepard - very cute and also very scared of Jasper. Soon they will both tower over him and we'll see who's afraid of whom...

Remember, right after 9/11, when a picture of the flag with the words, These Colors Don't Run , was the war cry for this crazy war we now find ourselves in? Well, here's a picture of the flag flying off our front porch and, unfortunately , these colors DO run. Our nylon flag is a casualty of the very rainy summer. I guess they don't make flags the way they used to.

Cam got home from his adventure last night around 6pm. It was a tearful reunion for all the families, but probably more for the mothers than anyone else! He was happy to see us, and actually had a lot to say about his trip. I think all the days seemed to blend together because he lost track of time, and thought it was Thursday! He said he wasn't tired so we went out to dinner, then headed home to unpack. He bought us a really nice piece of Venetian glass, and an "evil eye" bracelet for his sister. We're so happy he's home, and I think he's ready for a couple of days (weeks?) of just hanging around the house after his intense 20 days. Later today I'll be putting pictures up on the blog's slide show...check back!

Yesterday, Annalisse returned from a rainy weekend camping in Alexandria Bay. Tired and in need of a good shower, she had a great time! It's just two more days until our other bird flies back. Cam should be home from his adventure around 5pm on Wednesday. It will be 11pm "Paris time" so I'm sure he'll be really exhausted after a long day of travel (and a busy but exciting 2 1/2 weeks on the road). We heard from a couple of families that the kids, in general, are ready to come home. They've had a wonderful time but it is really difficult to pack up and move every day, in addition to the long bus rides they've endured. We can't wait until he gets home!

Happy Birthday to my nephew Anthony (a.k.a. Tony)! Have a great rest of the week vacation with your crazy, um, I mean, "fun" family. (On second thought, maybe you shouldn't have accepted your aunt's invitation to be her friend on Facebook...)

Yesterday our Turkish friends, Ufuk and Hayat , left Rochester for Washington, DC, for the last stop on their journey home to Ankara . We will miss them and wish them safe travels and a great year at school.