Dear Nancy: My 23 year old daughter, Kathleen, is a senior at Virginia Tech. The "mascot" and university community is called the Hokies, or Hokie Nation. She will graduate in May with her BS in nutrition and will be taking her GRE examination next week so as to apply for a Masters in dietetics. Yes, Kate has lived through all those extraordinary tragedies at Virginia Tech and my youngest corgi, Linus, has the AKC name Heronsway Land of the Hokies because he arrived here at home the day of the massacre. Honestly though, it is a fabulous college. Kate leaves today for Florida because the Hokies are going to play in the Orange Bowl! Hope you are both feeling better and Daisy looks like a sweetie!!!! Happy, healthy (I am a certified healthcare chef, too) New Year, Nan. All the best, Nan

I lobby primarily at the state level here in Nebraska. I work for the NE Rural Electric Association. I do some federal work, but usually just with the Nebraska Delegation--puts me in Washington DC a half dozen times or more each year. Session starts on January 7. Not looking forward to it too much. I'm taking the week off and it has been so much fun being at home.

Nancy, congrats on graduation! Thanks for the Christmas wish. Sounds like fun going to Tahoe to get your tree. We go to the same tree farm each year....Doggie heaven. Good luck with graduate school.

We live in Ohio...west of Cleveland. Corgis are hard not to adore.

Happy Birthday!!! ^0^

Happy Birthday!