I throw all sorts of things into my pasta salad.. artichokes, broccoli, chopped green and black olives, onions, roasted peppers, pigeon peas- anything that looks good to me at the time. If you live near an Aldi's, they have dressings that make excellent pasta salad. The brand name is Grandessa. The two flavors I prefer for pasta salad are Three Cheese and Garlic vinaigrette.

I have to go out today to pick up some programs for Saturday, our annual change of watch. Monday night is our holiday party and then I am done with USCG Aux meetings/events until next year.

Jeri said something that made me think. She said at least I did not become bitter after losing my son. I am wondering if maybe I did? I no longer connect with people like I did before. I lost most of my friends and family after Tod died and have ascribed it to everything other than myself; i.e., made it not my fault. For example, I disconnected from my two toxic sister. That was a good thing, but I also lost friends with whom I was close. For some, it was their doing, I think because they did not know how to face me; how to cope with such an immense loss. (Like people avoid friends diagnosed with cancer because they don't know what to say to them.) With others, it was my fault. I simply disconnected and became more reclusive than ever before.

Think that is where I'll stop.