Back from California, rested and relaxed. (And REALLY home: it's 2:43 a.m. and I'm still up, sneezing and not breathing, with 2 out of 3 cats and 1 dog on the bed - out they go tomorrow, after washing sheets and blankets.) Rested at Ma's, watching TV and playing Solitare on my laptop. Enjoyed a weekend at Linda's with Sara and Eric and Susie, playing Shanghai and Dominoes. Won tons of Shanghai games against Susie until we quit to quilt all day. Went to the movies with Susie and Sandy. Spent too much money at a Scholastic Book sale and a quilt shop. On the way home I got to spend an hour over a blizzard, shake and onion rings with my old friend from Missouri, Susie. Now I have 1 1/2 weeks left of off track time so I'm ready to tackle reality again. Even in the cold, snowy weather. Welcome Home, Me!

I'm in sunny Calif., enjoying 70 degree weather and green grass and trees. Susie and I have been shopping and playing cards. Just relaxing with no schedule. I'm off to my mother's today fo spend a week before a weekend at Linda's with Sara and Eric. Then back to Susie's for a few days, and then home to the snow and frigid weather. Don't miss that at all.

Wendover, Louie Anderson, and Sunshine

Last weekend Bill and I went to Wendover to see Louie Anderson. For you young'uns, he's a stand-up comedian, pretty clean, who was popular way-back-when. I'd seen him before, in Las Vegas, with Susie and Sandy, while Bill and Joey were at the Monster Truck show. Kim got us tickets for Christmas, "Row A, Seats 1 & 2," so I told Bill that he involves people in his act who are sitting close to the stage. He started out with a few comments about Mormons - nothing bad- and asked who was Mormon, so we raised our hands. Later he asked Bill if he was offended, and when Bill said no, he made Bill part of his act! Bill and Joe, a smoker, who fed into Louie's smoking jokes. He asked Bill questions, like how old he was (and he said Bill looked pretty good for his age) and what he did. They bantered back and forth and Louie talked about things he'd said - old age, teaching, etc. He was very funny. We laughed the whole time!
The weekend was a nice get-away, until 5:30 a.m. when someone pounded on our hotel room door, yelling at us to let them in because they lived there. By the time Bill got dressed and to the door, as I was yelling at them to go away, they'd realized they had the wrong room and strolled off.
Tomorrow I go off track and am off to Calif. for a week, to relax and play with sister & cousins, and watch my mom watch TV. Thank goodness Bill does a good job of keeping the house and children in order while I'm gone. It sure helps to have Jill living here, too, to take charge when he has to work at the previously-known Delta Center. So enjoy the snow while I enjoy the sunshine!!!

Pat told me on Facebook that I have to ramble on, so I will. However, it will knock off some of my beautiful daughters' pictures and updates, so go to "Blog Archive" in the left column, click on 2008, then on Dec to see them. (It will be worth it!) (Even though Pat is the only one who reads this and she's seen those . . . ). Life in Leeperland is busy. I'm all alone today - Bill is working the Dinosaur show at the "Delta" Center, Joey is at Michael's, and Robin is at Hayley's. Jill is trading in her new car for one she can get financing for. Anyway, I'm supposed to be reading a boring Math book and writing a paper right now, but I'm taking a long break. It's a 3 day weekend after all so it will get done before the Tues. class. I've been up since 5:50 a.m. on a sleep-in Sat. to take Joey and friends to their Pow Wow to earn merit badges. I think I enjoyed it more than they did. Then we went to a church basketball game where I watched these poor boys, with no subs, play against a team much taller than they and with 3 subs. WE WON IN OVERTIME BY 1 POINT!!! This week I went to a meeting to see about getting a doctorate - How does Dr. Leeper sound? When I read about it, it was all theory and research. BLAH! I gotta quit taking classes anyway, but I love to learn. Gotta keep ahead of my 5th graders.
Everyone here is fine and keeping busy. Not much else to ramble on about. Next time I'm up at 3 a.m. I'll ramble on some more. P.S. I track off in 5 1/2 days, but who's counting?????

The Christmas season was full of surprises! Sara, Kevin, & Eric drove in from San Diego, surprising everyone. It was wonderful to see them again. Linda, Bob, and baby Andrew (Andy's son) drove up for Bob's niece's wedding so they spent a few days with us. We couldn't have asked for a better gift!

Sisters Linda & Karen

Leeper Ladies All Together!: Sara Kim Robin Kassie Jill Meridy Katie Kaleena