Been a long time gone

For all those who have visited faithfully without an update, I apologize. Eee gads it's been an insano trimester. Our last day of finals was Thursday and we started the Activator elective Friday afternoon. Looks like I will be in Iowa till this Thursday and then the great trek home for break begins.
Updates: Ron and I have been dating for a little over 2 months now. I'm happy, he makes sense to me, and rather than being a source of stress, he helps me keep things in perspective. I consider myself a lucky woman. Looks like I am going to be staying with him on my way through Chicago and will get to meet his Mom. If I thought about it I would be nervous. I plan to come bearing gifts of Whitey's ice cream (a local favorite) and toiletries. What woman could say no to chocolate and bath salts?
My sister is going to have surgery this summer to close a defect in her heart that she was born with and which we were told had closed by age 5. For those who pray, please keep her in your prayers. She, and Nate, her husband, are taking things in stride. Mom and Dad are well and Grandma is still trying to whip Dad into shape. As far as I know Sahib, Mom's iguana, continues to thrive and love Mom only and despise the color yellow. I can't wait to see my Lucky dog and Chunk who my father has turned into a sumo fantail goldfish. Yes, ladies, he still lives and I have the pictures to prove it!
Darn the power of coffee to keep you up when you really should be sleeping. Alas, it will be 8am sooner rather than later and I really need to try and get to bed.
My love to all, later gators. I promise to post while I am at home in NY.