i write this, reeking of tuna...i spilled. so, no - i didn't smoke. i will call the doc tomorrow though to re-up my prescription...the cravings i have experienced in the past 2 days are worse than when i first quit. they are stopping my life. so i will deal as best i can, and if not, then i will again smoke because i don't intend to spend my life distracted by this. onward: today as i headed home from the store, i caught a flash of movement to the left...i slowed and there she was...a beautiful coyote...with a mate and a small one. they would run to the roadside and grab onto something, but run back at the first hint of a vehicle. i looked closer and saw the long-frozen remains of a deer that had been buried in the snow. the coyotes have their shaggy winter coat on, and look for all the world like they'd be covered in rabies, but that's just them. such beautiful animals....actually, diva's face is quite similar. i have a huge pot of veggie soup cooking, and the smell is just glorious (well, besides the smell of tuna). my friend Patty has 2 brothers in the military, and she is putting together Love A Soldier packages for them for Valentines Day. she invited one & all to participate, so i'm off to buy beef jerky, phone cards and chocolate (which she says is worth gold!). also some warm wool socks, as it is cold cold cold there. i guess i don't think of Afganistan as being cold ever. der on me. if you want to play, just let me know! she'll be sending everything out this week. the soldiers all LOVE getting mail from anyone...even strangers! if there's a National Guard or other military base near you, ask them how to send stuff, and what can be sent, etc. so off to stir the pot (as usual!). a somewhat normal, boring post. finally! L.