Reply #12: indeed.

[ginnyinWI]

Things have changed for the better in our country. The bush is gone and a truly competent and talented Dem President is in his place. So for us, really it is "mission accomplished". Not perfect, but the crisis has passed. That's a good thing, but the great fears and terrors that drew us and banded us together have dissipated, and with them maybe some of the passion of our cause.

There will always be things to be concerned with, and interesting things in politics to watch and think about and grow from. Looking back, we made our candidate and then ex-candidate JK our hero because we really desperately needed one to get through those dark days. While I still respect him a lot and believe he's one of the good guys, he's really just a person, not a superhero, trying to do some good in this world. In the long run, maybe him losing was for the best--not because of him, but because the Repubs had enough power for so long that they blew up their party good. Obama seems to be the right person for our present situation. Never thought I'd live to type out what I just said about JK's losing, for that was a super painful event for me and all of us.

I'm still watching the news and some of the talking heads, but I'm drifting into other interests again (the leadership crisis being solved). You can find me in the Cooking & Baking group, the Pets group or in the big forums with an occasional comment.

I haven't chatted with you guys in ages. Special events: just had a visit from my daughter-in-law and grandson (19 months old now). They have been with my son in Australia since last June and came back for a visit. He's still working for the Animal Logic studio in Sydney, but soon will start a new job working for the studio Weta in New Zealand. So since they won't be back any time soon, my husband and I will try to take a trip there in a few months. Never been there and it should be exciting, especially since grandson #2 is due at the end of July! It will cost $$$ but some things are too important to miss.
Eldest daughter, having survived a brief, mistaken marriage and separated two years ago, has apparently met the Love of her Life (cue the orchestra!). She's planning to move to France permanently which is convenient because he is a Belgian. Youngest daughter(the one who got married last summer) and husband are beginning to look for their first house so that they can take advantage of the $8000 Obama tax credit by the end of this year. They still have their Al Franken campaign poster in their window in Minneapolis--when is that thing going to be resolved, anyway?
We're still doing okay even though the 401k is a bit worse for wear. Hopefully it will be back on track by the time we need it to retire on some years ahead.