BGG, are you OK??

[KarenSews2]

Hi Michelle! I thought of you while I was in Key West last week. We were in a T-shirt shop and they had the same one you wore at JanisMania--the one that I loved so much! It said, "I'm just one big f***ing ray of sunshine!" I was tempted...

I hope the move and new job(s) are going well for you and your sweetie, Rachel.

Love and hugs

[marjan]

I've had an email from Michelle last week that she had let her big cat Chester go to sleep

[BGG]

Hey Ladies (and the rest of the Rudie Gang)!

Yes, Karen - I am doing ok, thanks for asking. Like Marjan said, I had to put Chester (a.k.a. The Bus) down last week. It was really a tough loss. He was my buddy for so long, and my confidant during the hardest time in my life. He was my very best friend.

I will miss him until the day I die, but I know I did the right thing by him. I will always be honored to have earned his trust (he was a classic feral when I met him) and forever-thankful for his unconditional love for me.

So we are picking up his ashes today and spreading them at Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, Maine.

We made it through the move across the country, with a dog, 4 cats, and a rat in tow. The trip was nice... saw some beautiful country, and even the kids seemed to enjoy themselves. We got moved in - and continue to settle ourselves into the area. Rachel loves her job and I love mine. I'm working with a great group of folks in a very small software company... and doing what I love. What could be better?

We're waiting for spring BIG time though... being less than an hour from the White Mountains, we'll be doing a lot of hiking with the dog.

Sorry to my friends here on the JIMB if it seems I've fallen off the face of the planet. Sometimes life just takes over, you know? I check in once a week or so and try to catch up on the goings-on... just don't seem to have time to post these days.

I wish you all well - and I hope to see a whole boatload of you at the next Rudie Picnic-in-the-park! I was so bummed to have missed the last one, but I'm setting aside whatever I need to make it to the next one!

Peace everyone - I'll be looking in on you!

Michelle (and Rachel by proxy)

[Eva]

Good to hear from you again.

Eva

[Bat]

Despite the devastating loss of your old buddy cat, you sound wonderfully happy overall in your new digs. I love Maine, and can empathize...beautiful country, a job you love, and the one you adore, all in close proximity, have to be Paradisical. You have the envy of many, I'm sure!
Glad to see you back on the board, if briefly.
Big Hugs to you both, and don't be strangers, once you get all settled in and bored. :eek:

[david uk]

Hi Michelle- good to hear from you

I haven't forgotten the support you gave me a couple of years back :)

[SongDragon]

Good to see you back on the board, BGG!

Glad to hear you're alright and settling in. Sorry about Chester, though I'm glad he lived a nice, full life with you.

~Song

[DaveM]

Glad to see you back as well. And observing a moment of silence for Chester.

[Agnes]

Hi Michelle, good to hear from you again. So sorry about Chester... Big hug to you!

[corolla girl]

BGG,
My heartfelt condolences for your beloved Chester. I'm going through the same tough decision as to putting my beloved Sabrina to sleep. It is something I'm trying to prepare for, but emotionally it hits so hard. I know it is the right thing to do, but to let her go is so tough.

I'll say a prayer for your beloved Chester, and maybe some Rudie vibes may come my way to help me through this tough decision. I call Sabrina, my "fuzzy alarm clock", as she wakes me each morning. She will have to pass that tough job to her siblings.

Hope your sorrow has eased some. Take care.........corolla girl......

[Oak Kitten]

Welcome back, BGG

I am so sorry to hear about Chester. I have 4 cats, all of whom are in pretty good shape at present. It must be a terribly hard decision to make, but I am sure you did what was best for him.

I have family in "New Hampshah." Pretty state, especially near the White Mountains, but spring comes late there (at least compared to Maryland).

Have you tripped over any presidential candidates yet? I hear they are thicker than black flies in summer up there.

Oak

[Rickster]

'Chelle, We missed you! Sounds like everything fell into place for you and Rachel. So sorry about your Chester! He's probably in a better place!

Best,

[KarenSews2]

Glad to see you are OK! I'm so sorry about Chester. Whenever someone is talking about a BIG cat, I remember that picture of you with Chester! He was a BIG boy!

More hugs...

[dragonlady]

I remember that picture...I thought Chester was a little whiskered horse :D !!! Sorry to hear he had to leave us here on Earth...

Good to hear from you Michelle..I couldn't remember where you'd gotten off to these days, just that you had moved again. Don't freeze your butt off up there...:rolleyes:

Take care...

[leslie]

How far are you from Sutton, NH? We've got a place up there and would love to have you guys over to hang out on the lake!

Leslie

[BGG]

Hey Leslie - according to MapQuest, we're about 1:15 S.E. of Sutton (in Rochester)... we'd love to come play at the lake! Give us a holler any time you and Pat head up this way!

Thanks for the well-wishes, everyone. I'm still peeking in from time to time - sense me looking over your shoulders?!?

Peace,
Michelle

[Eva]

I'm still peeking in from time to time - sense me looking over your shoulders?!?
I must say that it is a bit scary to suddenly find a giant penguin standing behind me... :eek:

Eva

[Amy in Vermont]

BGG..

I think you'll find the trip from Rochester to Sutton a little bit longer than that.. there's really no "direct" route, and the trip up Rte 4 can be slow. You will however, also be delayed by having to stop at the LL Bean outlet in Concord that you will pass by.

I know that neck of the woods pretty well, having done my undergrad work in Henniker and grad school in Durham. Also, for years, the only Equine surgical facility in New England was in Rochester.

By the way, you should check out Tupelo Music Hall's (http://www.tupelohall.com/) schedule. They are not too far away in Londonderry.