I am reaching out to others...I know I am not alone and others are having a rough time of it too...some worse....some better. That is life.

My idea is to ask you to send me a postcard.

My hope is to return to work at some point and use the postcards for lesson plans in the classroom.

remember, it usually takes post cards a little longer to arrive.

You know how it is with Lyme disease - sometimes decisions are difficult

I also tried to squeeze some interesting facts into the small message space.

I'm sending a postcard from Minnesota.

From South Carolina....

Did you know that Columbia has 6 colleges and univerisities and Fort Jackson.

Carols family has lived in SC for about 250 years!

She has relatives who fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and her Great, Great, Grandparents home was burned by General Sherman.

This should help history come alive for the kids!

...didn't know if you were looking for Geography or History or what...if you want some more and, or, more relative to just what you are teaching and their age...then, let us know...

didn't know if we were writing to 6 year olds or 12 year olds...I think it would make a difference.

Still think that it is a good idea...but, still curious as to the age and subject you are putting this together for your students.

My undergrad work is deaf education.

I don't know what I will be teaching in the future.

I would like to work with the Deaf again.

I figure I can use the postcards for Science, Math, Language, History, Fun, Social Studies, Geography, etc.

One thing I have learned is that many of the Deaf children do not get out and about much.

This one the kids will really like....

It is a picture of holsteins version of a lazy day.

Sizzled says this is a view from the land of Ben and Jerry's ice cream!

Can you guess where this post card came from?

(Note: the kids will have to research this...they will not have the luxuary of looking up sizzled's name)

There is another postcard of a covered bridge...

I doubt that the children in CA are familar with a covered bridge unless they have seen the one at Yosemite.

And I learned that the moss I saw growing in New Orleans years ago is called Spanish Moss.

This was from a post care from Alabama Lyme Disease Support Group. Thanks Kara.

I did not know that Alabama had this moss also. It left quite an impression on me when I saw it years ago.

And do you know which state is known as "The Natural State?"

Hint: LIttle Rock is the capitol. It is a beautiful capitol...started construction in 1899 and finished in 1916.

I'll have to have one of my relatives or friends send you a postcard from Texas! A relative of my husband's family died at the Alamo.

I'm sorry I haven't sent my cards yet! I bought them [2!] but keep forgetting to buy postcard stamps. [and too cheap to use regular ones.... ]

Keep us posted with all the info!

I think this is a great idea- I have already picked you up a postcard, but haven't put it in the mail yet...got a bit side tracked this week.

I do hope this is helping to lift your spirits- I am enjoying hearing about the cards you recieve too.

I'll bet you were a wonderful teacher and your next class will be very fortunate to sit in your company.

My very best,
Melanie

We should keep Kam on our postcard list as we travel throughout the year...

Kam, I have another idea...why not have a class adopt a unit going to Iraq?

My son-in-law, who is in the National Guard, will be leaving this Fall and will be in training for a couple of months and then he is being shipped off to Iraq for a whole year. He will be missing so much since his only child was just born in June.

ALSO:
kam doesn't have a class right now...she's too sick....but she WILL one day soon!

Well DUH! I figured out how to do this! You put 2 postcards in one large envelope!! I'm pretty sure they can both be sent with one reg. stamp! You might even be able to send more than 2 with one stamp! COOL!!

I don't know how many times post cards have sat around my house before I got the post card stamps...and this was before lyme!

Lymetoo...Great job on knowing all the states surrounding the Natural State!

I had no idea that Boise looked so much like Bakersfield, CA.

Boise's capitol is beautiful also...started in 1905..completed in 1920.

I doubt they could replace it in todays market.

Today's cards were from a friend who has been traveling.

They are in two great bodies of water. Do you know which ones?

I will have my limo driver stop by to pick up the person(s) who can answer this question.

It is so good to be back on line again.

Today's postcard is from the Lowell Historical Society in Massachusettes.

It is a picture from 1910 titled Noon at the Mills.

I don't know why...but this postcards do give me hope.

I picture myself in front of the class with all the postcards on a display board with a map of the World.

Sometimes I wonder if I will return to the classroom.

Then other times, I know that I will.

I just hope I don't break down crying when I get up to give this lesson with all the postcards.

virgin islands....caribbean sea and the Atlantic Ocean??

Today's arm chair travels are to:

Minnesota...land of 10,000 lakes, our 32nd state, state bird is the Loon, state flower is one of my favorites..the lady slipper, and its name was derived from the Sioux...meaning sky tinted water.

State capital (capitol?) is......

Next is South Carolina. It was named in honor of Charles 1 of England...Nickname..Palmetto State (Why?)...
capital is Columbia...Mottos..Prepared in Mind and Resource...While I breathe I hope!

Which ocean touches South Carolina's eastern shore?

Next...

Do these names ring a bell....Shawangurk Mountains, Awosting Falls, Peter's Kill?

This picture perfect place has a beautiful waterfall with fall colors...

hint..people usually just think of this state as a city with tall buildings..but there is so much more to it

Note to Lymewarrior: I don't know about you, but I am going to need to retrain myself once I get back. I haven't even been able to read or spell and math is really out of the picture right now.

We will certainly have a little understanding of what it is like to have ADD, learning disabilities and be limited in what we can take in each day after this.

Hopefully this will make us better teachers.

This one is on the Oregon Coast..built in 1894.

And it is still in use. Smile.

It is from Susie. She was just dx 3 weeks ago. She said that her meds will be arriving soon.

She says, "Part of me can't wait, the other part of me wants to be in denial."

Boy, does that sound familar.

I continue to have the song Sail Away, Sail Away run through my head every now and then.

tape. at the end he tells a story about
a sailing trip, running into a storm and

holding view of a lighthouse. he uses the experience as a metaphor for coping within

illness. giving up is not an option. find your lighthouse (s) and hold on. i think of

Lymetoo....your postcards arrived today!

For those armchair travelers, we are going to visit lymetoo's stomping grounds today.

Did you know that Branson, Missouri has a population of 6,000....but 7 million tourist a year!

I had no idea. I always thought of Branson as being a large town.

And have you heard of Shoji? Shoji is from Osaki, Japan. His dream was to play country music after hearing Roy Ocuff play in Japan when Shoji was a child.

Today, Shoji plays to 6,000 people a day in November and December.

....with the help of Lymetoo's husband...who plays woodwinds.

They now play all styles of music...Shoji is a virtual violinest.

OK. Our spirits were lifted by hearing the beautiful music and watching someone who had achieved his dream beyond his imagination.

Next, our eyes get to feast on the beautiful Lake Tameycomo which has depts of 900 feet!

And we are close to a LLMD...which is always good to know when so many of us are all living on the little lymie bus.

I thought of all of you and wished I had kept your addresses.

It would have been fun to send you a post card from this area.

I met a couple from Pennsylvania while being there. They told me about a couple of guys from England they met.

It seems they had saved their money and purchased a travel plan that allows them thousands of flight miles all around the world for one year.

The Sequoia`s were there first stop...next Australia where they planned on working for 3 months to fill there poppers and then travel on to another country of which I have forgotten.

A teacher friend on break took me to the moutains. I find I ride in the car rather well as long as I can put the seat back.

We saw a bear along side the road...stopped and watched it forage for food until a tour bus scared it off.

We also saw a few trantula`s. I did not know they were climbers and jumpers.

And of course, we saw chipmunks and gray squirrels.

(Did you know that the largest tree in the world has the smallest pine cones? And that the Sugar Pine has one of the largest pine cones?)

Did I tell you about the squirrel I saw rolling the pine cones out on to the street in order to have the cars crush the cone for him so he didn`t have to get the nuts out himself? Just kidding.

I did drop my Gouda cheese while on the moutain road. I looked all over for it and couldn`t find it. I wondered if it had rolled down the road....sure enough...as we travel the curves of the road....there was my Gouda Cheese several curves down the road...that was quite amusing. I don`t think that would happen again if I tried.

I am so looking forward to going again. I hope to return in the winter time. It is a whole new park in the snow.

I brought back a nature coloring book along with some new plastic coloring pens (which work very well)..better than colored pencils.

You did a great job!
One tiny correction for those who know this area....The card showed Lake Taneycomo which is really a dammed up river.

The lake it formed is Table Rock Lake and its depth is over 900 ft.

Taneycomo is a weird name and is named for the county Branson is in....Taney County MO. Strange huh!? Its waters hover around 44 year round.

Glad you had a great time at Sequoia. It IS a lovely place.

------------------
oops!
Lymetutu

I hear that the lakes look as if they are oceans in Michigan.

I have a picture of three of them...can you name them?

Today's trip was brought to you by Bev...thanks!

I received another post card with a lighthouse on it.

This one is from Boston. This lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in America and sits at the entrance to the Boston Harbor.

I wonder if it is still in use?

That would be great! How long have you been a lyme warrior?

It is hard to keep a positive attitude at times..especially when the medical field is in disagreement on how to treat this and wants to just so oh well...so sorry...have a nice day!

And the lyme docs cost money you don't have.

Today we get to go to the mile high city with the Rocky Mountains and purple foothills. Any guesses as to where we are??

Melanie reports that the city rests at 5,280 ft elevation.

Next on the trip is to a building which is on the National Registry of Historical Places.

It was built in 1914. Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri is the second largest station in North America.

(I wonder what the first is?)

And it is now the Science Building.

Kansas City is also ranks nationally as first in greeting cards. Guess which company is located in Kansas City?

And the KCTV tower is taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris standing at 1,087 ft.

IN 1855, if you were a hog and rooting around the city streets....you were bacon for whoever decided to shoot you because city marshall's authorized it.

Carmen also gave me the name of the official flower but I am not sure if I read it correctly....iris?

Lots of good information on both cards. The kids will really like these.

I received 3 cards today.

The first one is has a picture of Colonial Williamsburg, the capitol of Williamsburg, Virginia.

The building is very impressive. The writer states that the leaves have not changed on the trees yet.

And that you wouldn't believe the trees downed by Isabel. Thousands!!

They also heard Patrick Henry and Martha Washington speak while they were there.

The next one is from Yorktown, Virginia. The writer wanted to visit Jamestown too but it is still closed because of Isabel. Jamestown is totally flooded, again!

When they went to eat at a favorite restaurant in Yorktown, it was gone due to Isabel.

One can see cannon balls embedded in the Thomas Nelson House from the Revolutionary War.

Yorktown is the birth place of the new nation, The United States of America began here in 1781.

The third postcard is of Petersburg National Battlefield, Five Forks Unit.

It makes the walk to the mailbox worth it.

Today's armchair travels are to the first New World Settlement....Jamestown.

The year is 1607. A year later most of the original settlers had perished due to disease or starvation.

He is know recovered and they are enjoying life and vacations.

>Our trip went really well. The weather was very cooperative. Could have been cooler for me, but it was in the mid-70's and it was only rainy the day we arrived and then rained one night.

Boy, we out west, forget how humid the east can be. And, it wasn't really humid by their standards, but we could feel it sometimes, especially after the one rainy night.

We just had a great time. I may have mentioned that when we tried to go to Jamestown, it was still closed because of Isabel.

You just wouldn't believe the trees that were blown down. I mean upended out of the ground, roots and all! Thousands upon thousands.

Shoot, at Yorktown Nat'l Cemetery, when the trees came out of the ground, so did some of the grave sites!

Friday night when Mike got on his laptop, he found that they had opened up Jamestown again on Thursday. So, we delayed our departure on Sat. morning and went to Jamestown.

Decided we were there and Lord only knows if we'll ever get back. Glad we did. We saw things from the git go.

First settlement there, then the move up to Williamsburg and all the happenings there that led to the Revolution and then to Yorktown where it all ended and, began again.

I had never thought about it before, but so much of the Civil War took place over the same terrain.

In Williamsburg people dress in the time frame and speak as they did then. We went and saw Patrick Henry speak. Quite interesting. He was quite the rabble rouser, but firmly convinced the cause was just. Some of his compatriots considered him, in so many words, a pain in the butt!

Also saw Martha Washington talk about her life prior to and with George. The woman who did that was great, but a little long winded. We sat and listened to her for 2 hours! It was long, and I did get a little antsy, but it was never boring. I found Martha to be an interesting person that I wanted to know more about. I picked up a little biography to read on Martha when I went to Mt. Vernon.

Also, picked up a book, the other day, by Mary Higgins Clark called "Mt. Vernon Love Story". Turns out it was her first novel. She had been a radio scriptwriter and got interested in George after doing research for a historical series she was writing. Seems she dispelled some of the myths and rumors about George.

Leaves hadn't quite changed colors yet at Williamsburg and when we went over Shenandoah, they were basically, gone.

However, once we got down on the eastern slope driving into D.C. there was some color and it was pretty. We did a lot of walking - a lot! Mike said he was glad he had to go back to work in D.C. so he wouldn't have to try and keep up with me.

Told the boys I had walked his legs off to about 2-3 inches below his knee caps! I have to admit, I was rather pooped myself, but then had D.C. to do. I'm just about recovered now.

As always, D.C. is great to see. However, things are definitely different since I was there 13 years ago. You can't just walk up the front steps into any of the Smithsonian Bldgs anymore. Have to go through security checkpoints every building you enter. Gee, I walked up to one side of the Supreme Court Bldg. to sit in the shade and change film in my camera, it was a rather secluded spot and I was the only one there, but I soon became aware of a security officer keeping an eye on me from down on the sidewalk.

You become paranoid about maybe taking the wrong step or going the wrong direction and having somebody all over you. Talk about Big Brother keeping an eye on you. Just kind of disconcerting in your own country's capitol.

You have to have a ticket to get into many of the sites, Capital, Library of Congress, etc. Or, they charge you for everything.

When we went to Petersburg Battlefield, we went up what they call "Plantation Drive". The road runs along the James River and there were several plantations along it, which made sense.

They located themselves on the river for transportation purposes. You can go into any number of them, but they will charge you anywhere from $10.50 up.

I chose to see Shirley Plantation as it was listed as the oldest in Va. and the place where Robert E. Lee's mother had been born and where he spent time growing up. How different can one plantation be from another??

We really enjoyed it, but by the time I got to D.C., I was tired of the attempts at nickeling and diming you to death. Especially in D.C. where I thought all this was public domain and belonged to the taxpayer.

I thought I'd go see the new Museum of Espionage. Well, they wanted $11 to get into that. Anyway, I had contacted one of our Senators here before I left and got scheduled for a tour of the Capital (don't know why I did that, I've seen it before, but I did), the Library of Congress and the Church of the National Shrine.

I ended up not seeing that as the Metro didn't quite get me there and I was plain pooped out from walking as much as I had.

As it turned out, walking through the tunnel from the senate bldg. to the capital, we passed ole Hillary! As I told Mike, "Now my life is complete and I can die a happy woman." That is dripping with sarcasm.

I can't stand the woman! Also passed John McCain. I do rather like him.

If you get to D.C., you absolutely have to go to the Library of Congress. I'd never been before, don't know why, but I hadn't. It's fabulous. The architecture, the paintings on the domed ceilings, the marble columns, the mosaics on the ceilings were just outstanding. I've seen a number of the famous buildings and cathedrals in Europe, but the Library of Congress could hold its own with any of them.

As I mentioned, went out to see Mt. Vernon. I had planned on it, but really was wanting to go after we heard Martha speak at Williamsburg. It was nice.

Went by and paid my respects to Geo. and Martha. Nice little site they had there on the Potomac. I used the metro to get around on, which is great, but,it does not drop you right at the doorstep of a lot of the sites. You still have to walk some.

I was a little shakey at the prospect. I'd used it before when I was there 13 years ago, but that was before 9/11. Talk about a dandy thing to hit. Our friend, who lives there, said it was a soft spot, but the place is crawling with plain clothed law enforcement and cameras view every nook and cranny.

So I meandered my way hither, thither and yon on the metro. Out to Mt. Vernon, out to Arlington and everthing in between.

I always have to go to Arlington. It's just such a special place. Did you know that it belonged to Robert E. Lee's wife when they married?

They were living in it when the Civil War broke out. Lee resigned his commission with the federals and was commisioned in the Confederate Army. When the Union over ran Arlington, to spite Lee, and to make it so he could never live there again, they buried Union dead in his front yard.

It was well worth the trip. I received post cards from Scotland today.

But, wait a minute...let me get my hat on which I also received in the mail. I am sorry but the name of the cap has slipped through even though I recalled the name as soon as I saw it.

It is a red cap plaid cap with a red tassle or ball on the top in the middle. It also has red hair included!

I can see me wearing it now as I teach the kids about Scotland. Visuals are great.

I think the postcards will help to:

- a picture of the flags
- Scottish Seasons ( I really like this one..rain, rain, rain, and then snow
- a thistle
- a man in full dress playing the bag pipes
- a Scottish Traffic jam (a truck surrounded by sheep)
- a Scottish dog..ahh. I wonder if she will fit in my suitcase.
- A sheep with the flag of Scotland painted on him. The kids will really be able to recall what the flag of Scotland looks like after seeing this postcard.
- A white Scottish Dog. That does it. I am bringing two pet carriers or a large one back with me.
- A Scottish band dressed in full attire including the bag pipes of course
- And a highland cow

His brother also received a letter. Their family survived...others in his village did not.

She also wrote him and told him things like John 1:3, etc. She told him she believed in him and that he could become anything he wanted to become.

He thought that Americans must have numbers after their names. He asked her about it. She sent him a Bible.

I was really running dangerously low while she was here so I was not able to take much in.

What I did take in is that you can go on a trip with something called elderhostel.

She stayed in a dorm like setting with 3 other women.

They went out on the ice with an open vehicle with large wheels.

The polar bears would stand on their hind legs to look at the people in the vehicle.

But, the people were safe because the vehicle was taller than the bears.

She also saw artic foxes and other wildlife.

She was awoken in the middle of the night one night to see the light show in the sky.

Sorry, I was not able to take in much of what she was saying...but it did sound like something I would like to do once I am well.

I certainly do not know why it took so long to get to me. There were 3 dates on the envelope as if they had tried to contact me 3 different time. But, I never received anything. Glad they didn't sent it back.

And I have misplaced the name of the person who sent them.

Will the owner of the Northern California cards please stand up! Smile.

Thank you so much for the California State Parks Magazine.

I was just thinking of checking the web for state parks when I received the magazine.

The first picture is one of vineyards. The writer states that they were so sad when they took out the Gravenstein Apple Trees.

She would freeze enough apples in the fall to make pies and sauces.

She has an old apple press and makes apple cider and freezes it.

She states that nothing beats a gravenstein apple pie.

I don't know about you guys, but I am getting hungry.

The next post card is from the Graton-Forestville area. I have not traveled this part of California and am looking forward to it.

They live on 1/2 acre which is just right. Her son-in-law things that the area is too yuppi. Smile. I haven't heard that term in a while.

A picture of the California Redwoods is next. This has been a place that keeps popping in my mind since I have had lyme.

I am really looking forward to returning to this area. The picture is of Armstrong Woods in Guerneville, CA.

Her husband works for the state parks and they lived n a little house at the entrance to the park.

This is where the writer believes she meet Mr. Infected Tic or is it Miss? Anyway, I am assuming he or she has been bugging her since. I sure hope he goes away soon.

Thanks for the postcards. I really enjoyed traveling to Northern CA today in my mind.

I am looking forward to physically being there again some day soon.

This is a great thread! Today is the first time I saw it

By the way, I am also very interested in the Deaf culture. I've taken four semesters of ASL and plan to return to classes once I'm a bit better.

Tomorrow I'll be on a post card treasure hunt for sure. Hope I can find you some neat ones

We will have one token pumpkin pie, but the others will be apple or my mother-in-law might be making apple dumplings.

Glad you enjoyed them.
Cindy ><>

OK Armchair Travelers....today we go to Alaska for an update:

Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 3:08:37 AM AKST

Barrow says goodbye to sun until Jan. 23.........
The Associated Press

BARROW--The sun is setting on Barrow and won't be seen
again for 66 days.

The sun was expected to rise at 12:33 p.m. Tuesday and
will set just 1 hour and 18 minutes later at 1:51
p.m., according to the National Weather Service in
Barrow.

"I'm sad to see the sun go, and I look forward to its
return next year. It will be great to have it with us
again as we move toward spring," said Marie
Adams-Carroll, who has lived in Barrow all her life.

She said she and her husband Geoff Carroll have a sled
dog team, and even the dogs can be affected by the
dark and the cold.

George Cowan, who lived in Barrow for 17 years before
moving to Seattle, was back for a visit and reflecting
on life in Alaska's northernmost town.

"It's a bigger deal when it comes back in January
after being down for all that time," he said.

Am I sensing that you are feeling better? I have "kept tabs" on your journey thru your "Day 1" posts, and you certainly have been thru alot. I've been praying for you for wellness and hope that you are indeed making some forward movement. Your writing on this thread sounds so hopeful!

The first postcard is of a cranberry field.

It is beautiful. The cranberries are growing along side a stream. Across the stream there is a grove of trees with autumn leaves.

The harvesting of cranberries begins in September and peaks in mid-October.

Every year, over 2,000 cranberry festivals take place in Wisconsin. I had no idea the cranberries were such a big part of Wisconsin...nor did I know what a cranberry field looked like. I think the students will be impressed too.

Next we have a beautiful picture of our national bird, the Bald Eagle. He seems to like it in Wisconsin...especially near the Missippi River.

Welcome back Baldy.

PS Did you know that our forefathers were considering the turkey as our national bird at one time?

Wisconsin Facts:

Nickname: The Badger State
Population: 5,124, 971
Capital: Madison
Entered the Union: 1848 (30th State)

The last post card is of a white tailed deer buck. This guy gets really good gas mileage. He can sprint up to 40 miles per hour and leap over barriers as wide as 30 feet and as high as 8 feet.

When they are alarmed, that little white tail is raised.