Hi, Craig and Shelly:

Long time no blog.  I am embarrassed just thinking about how long it has been since my last post -- that does not mean I have not thought of you, just that all the demands and detritus of everyday routine seem to take over one's life -- and eat up the clock.  Every time I would think of writing, I would be in bed.....or driving somewhere.....or at work busy doing something....and I would promise myself, "I'll write something creative and entertaining for Craig's blog just as soon as I get up....or get home....or get through with this onerous task I'm currently addressing....."  Finally I just decided that rather than take hours trying to write something scintillating, it would be far better to just write SOMETHING to let you know that I am thinking of you and pulling for you.  Last Labor Day I broke my leg in several places and had to endure surgery and casts and crutches and wheelchairs etc. and I learned from those months of confinement exactly how boring and frustrating it can be, just lying around and depending on others for your care and entertainment.  And let me tell you, I was very disappointed to learn that very few people have perfected the art of mind-reading and therefore did not simply intuitively take care of my every need and whim.  Hmmmph.

I'm so sorry to hear that you have not been feeling well, Craig.  Not to sound like a broken record, and I know you don't feel like plowing through a 5-course meal, but I gotta back Shelly up on the eating business.  Lord knows that Ensure, compactly healthy and vitamin-loaded though it may be, can get booooring.  As can listening to everyone nagging you to eat.  And since you aren't out digging ditches or bowling or otherwise burning up trillions of calories, you probably aren't ravenous.  But I believe I am channeling Bill here -- so take this advice.  He was mightily unenthusiastic about hospital food, but when I stopped at Arby's before visiting him, he was not unhappy to see mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce, and he wasted NO time in putting away Jamocha shakes.  I don't represent that they are at the top of the list when it comes to pure nutrition and vitamin content.....but they WILL pack on some calories.  Being not unfamiliar with the delights of Jamocha shakes myself, I can (unfortunately, in my case) attest not only to their heavenly taste, but to their caloric bounty.  Or if Arby's isn't your favorite, there's probably something else out there that will tickle your taste buds.  Maybe McDonald's Shamrock shakes, it being close to St. Patrick's Day -- or perhaps you could get a Detroit connection to ship you some Sanders' hot fudge and cream puffs (any old vanilla ice cream will probably suffice) -- or Buddy's pizza (hey, I know Loui's Pizza doesn't do carryout, but would they ship?) -- or ???  Surely St. Louis has some ingestible claim to fame other than beer?  Unless of course it's vitamin-enhanced beer, in which case it would probably be OK....

And while you're drinking those shakes, or vitamin-enriched beer, perhaps you can catch some sports on TV, just for some exercise.  (I like that theory that visualizing yourself practicing athletics is as good as actually getting out there and sweating -- I get ALL my exercise that way.  I must have a very strong brain, at the very  least.)  I don't know if you've been keeping up with the Wings (I know those St. Louisians who surround you try to poison your mind -- oh, yes, I've seen their hating Red Wings comments on your blog and I remind myself that they are just jealous and long for a hockey team of their own).  They are now second in their conference and third overall (hey, they've got to let a few other teams do well occasionally just to keep the rest of the hemisphere interested in the NHL).  I'm feeling another Stanley Cup. Lord Stanley LOVES Detroit.   And of course the offer of my Wings seats still stands should you and/or Shelly visit and feel up to a game -- just call or email to confirm (lisablanchardesq@gmail.com, 202-549-2440). 

OK, enough chatter for now.  Time to get to work on the task of the evening:  updating the old resume -- perhaps there is TARP work to be had for a few of us willing number-crunchers who hang out in D.C.  Something about the word "billions" that makes one's ears perk up.....

Take care, both of you, and I'll do some serious positive thinking in regard to YOUR numbers as well, Craig.  I hope you are feeling much better much sooner, and may all your test results be good!  Know that even when we are bogged down in our perpetual daily routines and not as regular at composing written sentiments as we would like to be, everyone who has ever blogged here is thinking of you.  I hope you can feel all the rays of positivity that stream your way daily from all of us.

With the warmest of wishes from me and all the Hughes family,

Lisa