Greetings Trendsetters & Taxdodgers!

Either you all are dead or you like the different look to the web site. As you have probably seen by the first page, we are concentrating on our time spent in Venice. I have received a lot of comments saying we spent a lot of time in Europe. In fact we spent only 16 days there last September and it takes a while to scan all the images and put them is some kind of order and call it a web page.

It took Ruth 3 to 4 days to get over her Singapore sickness. She was running a temperature of 103f (39c) for a couple of days before her antibiotics kicked in. Even though her skin felt really hot, she had goosebumps on her legs and her hands were freezing to the touch.

Ruth's business seems to keep growing and growing. She had a big month in both of her Boise and Nampa stores which is very encouraging. It has taken a lot of trial and error to find out what sells and what sits. You wouldn't think 13 miles would make that much difference, but it seems that tastes change in that short distance. The town of Nampa is a small rural (read working class) but it appears that they purchase a lot more higher dollar items that the store in Boise. I can't work it out, but I ain't complaining. Ruth has put a lot of effort in to making her business a success over the last couple of years, so not only am I proud of her, I'm happy to see that she is having fun with it as well.

You wouldn't think it would be hard to give money away here in Boise. But it seems to us that unless you want to build a new house, forget about getting any other work done. We have contacted eight different companies that specialize in building, two came straight out and said that shed's are not their things, which we respect. One guy came out three weeks ago and said he had some plans from previous projects and would bring them around to us within a week. I'm glad we didn't hold or breaths as we haven't seen hide nor hair of him even after leaving half a dozen messages. That leaves the final five contractors. They all set up a time to meet us and look at the site, yep, you guessed it, they don't show up. Talk about frustrating. I'm getting to the point of saying forget it and going out and buying a new crew cab diesel ute (a pick-up for you septics out there).

Work has been pretty hectic for the pair of us lately. I don't want to bore you to tears with details but needless to say, we're looking forward to taking a couple of weeks and driving throughout the north eastern states and Canada in May. I'm starting to enjoy this Tommy Tourist shit now that we don't plan each day with military timing and precision. The only schedule we've set ourselves is to head in any direction from Brimfield (near Boston) with only two stipulations. One is to see Niagara Falls and other one is to be in Brimfield to fly back to Boise

I had better do something useful or Attila the Honey will have my guts for garters. Keep in touch.

Stay Happy ;-)

Fitzy