I'm on my way home from a three week stay in Yellowstone NP. Had a great time and didn't miss having phone service or internet. Lots of great hikes, drives, visits to thermal features, and reading. Highly recommended!

I have a new granddaughter, Cora Mae was born a month ago.

Congrats, Deb! Nice to see you again!

Bonnie, I'll be there in just a couple of weeks, for the first time in years. Can't wait! Your pics are great!

I’m almost finished with a course of Invisalign and I’m absolutely thrilled with the results. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. Oh, and I turned 60 this year and I wasn’t even close to being the oldest patient in the orthodontist’s office!

We are heading to Porto, Portugal in 2 weeks and am looking so forward to getting away for 9 weeks. Also, I've lost about 10-11 lbs. since May, so am excited to start dressing up again. I still have a ways to go, but I feel so much better about myself.

We had a wildfire barreling toward us. In fact the evacuation warning zone was less than two miles from our house. But then the weather changed, from helping the fire to helping the firefighters. The fire isn’t out, but it’s more under control and the wind is pretty calm.

Youtube video of planes scooping up water from Lake Tahoe to dump on the fire:

https://youtu.be/D3Pw1enYV88?si=diCkMKdC2UEfPkyv

I have had an incredibly smooth and good recovery from back surgery for a herniated disc. One week after surgery I started walking again in the morning, and six weeks after surgery I was able to sit for three hours at a baseball game with my family. Now that I am pain-free my husband and I can make up for some lost time traveling in retirement.

Thanks for the positive thread! My family is travelling to this side of the world next month, & I'm excited to visit Japan together with them

Heading to New York soon for a three night Broadway show package: Back to the Future, The Great Gatsby, and The Outsiders. Also excited to get out of my dominant summer weather and dress in fall layers! Can't wait!!!!!

What a fun thread!

MsMary, wow that's a long wait. You were so patient!

One of the few states in the US that I have not been to yet is Arizona. So, DH and I are planning to go there in Dec to celebrate our 15th anniversary. We'll be staying in Sedona but plan to drive around the entire state over the course of the week. A surprise for DH is, I booked a scenic train ride to the Grand Canyon (which he has never seen before).

Ah, so nice to see lots of good news.

One of my favorite things lately is that I secured a permit to hike Angels Landing in Zion National Park, after 25 years of wanting to do this!

It’s a short but challenging hike — all uphill to start, with a series of tight, steep switchbacks called Walter’s Wiggles. Then, after reaching Scouts Lookout, permit holders can proceed out a dramatic rock promontory another mile to an incredible point overlooking Zion canyon. It requires holding onto a series of chains and pulling yourself up steep inclines. Not for people who hate heights but I LOVED it! Proud of myself for doing it and feeling good during and after!

I tried to post pics but they’re too big. I’ll try to make smaller versions later.

Dh and I have been able to travel more now that my mum's health has been more stable. We're still not willing to travel outside the country given the health of both of our parents, but we made a Halloween trip and are going to NOLA the first week of December.

Best of all, my mum's latest scan came out cancer-free, and my mum and all the kids will be home for Thanksgiving.