Random update

First, you should know our computer is broken. Not this one, the other one... The one that has all our pictures on it, and has the right "drive" so I can upload pictures from our camera. Its battery has been dead for a year, and now its cord died. And the cord to our camera is lost, so there really is no other way to upload pictures. Hmm...

And next you should know that Mr. Fix-It (aka. Brian) has been so busy he can't see straight, much less find time to order a new computer cord or battery, or look for the lost camera cord. With that, I assume you already know that *I* am not responsible for the technological details of my blogging life: computer's broken, no pictures. That's just the way it works around here.

So, another photo-less entry from me. I have thoughts, and they need to come out somewhere. And now that you know how busy Brian has been (and probably will continue to be), you will just have to understand that right now blogging is going to be my "grown-up conversation" time. But since I've not been blogging for a long while (just waiting and hoping I can get the computer fixed), this blogging conversation is going to sound like someone who hasn't talked to anyone for days, maybe weeks, and finally has a listening ear... apologies in advance for the choppiness I anticipate in the coming paragraphs.

What to tell?
 I've been sick with a little sore throat. I'm on antibiotics, but they're not doing a super job of knocking this, so I think it was viral after all, lucky me.

To help myself get better, I've been staying up very late, watching dumb netflix sitcoms, eating pudding or ice cream bars.

Also to help me feel even better, the kids have had school all week, and Natalie has been kind enough to start most of our mornings for us at 6:35-6:45 a.m.

Brian has crawled in bed in the middle of the night (even LATER than my very late nights) every. single. night. for the past two weeks straight... except for last night, which didn't count because he never even came home AT ALL the night before, so... anyway.


To top it off, my dad and mom (aka. the-person-I-vent-to) have been gone on a cruise to Alaska for more than a week, with no cell phone service, except for that one day she called me from Juno for a few minutes.

Whine, whine, whine. I know. I sound pathetic, huh? It's really just the lack of sleep. It's 9 p.m. and I really think I'm headed to bed when I'm finished with this, even though I just KNOW Brian will be home soon. He really will, tonight.

Actually, it hasn't been that bad, and I'm really trying NOT to be so whiny. We still managed a trip into Central Park one day this week, and a trip to New Jersey today to see friends. And we made it to the dollar store, and the post office, and the library, and Costco this week, as well. We've even stopped by the puppy store on our main street, to gawk at the adorable little cuties in the windows.

Have to keep going, keep doing things that make me smile, right?

One thing that has REALLY made me smile this week is Samantha's attitude about school. I don't know that it will always be this way, but so far, she is absolutely THRILLLLLLED to be in school!! She LOVES her days, wishes they were longer, talks incessantly (and I DO mean INCESSANTLY) about her friends, her teachers, her art projects, her locker, her backpack, ... just "all things school" with that girl. It's adorable, and I could listen to her -- or rather, I DO listen to her -- for hours on end!

We've been doing half-day kindergarten these first two weeks. Then next week we'll do two full days and three half days. Then, the following weeks, it's ALL DAY school for Samantha. She's counting down on the calendar for this blessed event. And she still vows she will NOT miss Spencer. He sucks his finger and looks sad when she says this, so I have asked her to please stop saying it in front of him.

More happy news... Spencer started Joy School (preschool program) this week. And he really enjoyed it! Yay!! I was a little more nervous about him, because he seems like much more of a home-body than Samantha. But he surprised me in a good way... really enjoyed being there, loved the other kids and his "teacher," and wants to go back again. He still brings his blanket with him (I know... I'm such a softie mom when it comes to that). But he leaves it in his backpack most of the time. I'm curious to know how things will go when Joy School is at OUR house. We still have a few more weeks before then. Phew!

What else? Well, I'm happy to report that I've finally found a book I enjoy reading. This is good news, because I've struggled to find good material lately. I can't do nonfiction right now, even though I generally enjoy biographies -- they just put me to sleep right now. So, I'm looking for good fiction.

I tried "The Uglies" and it was okay. But the ending was weak. So I looked on wikipedia for a synopsis of the next books in the set. Thoroughly disappointing. Disappointing enough in the 2-paragraph synopses that I'm glad I didn't waste any more of my time with that series. (Just my opinion, for any "uglies" lovers out there.) Anyway, so the book I'm reading now, that is NOT a disappointment, is for our book club from church. "The Forgotten Garden." I'm halfway through, and loving it. Delicious sentences, fast moving plot, lots of twists and turns, great character development. And so far, no "junky scenes" that I'd rather skip, if ya catch my drift. This author is good! (Kate Morton -- she's good enough I actually remember her name. That says something, right there.) Now, lets hope she can really "punch" it with the ending, right?

Another not-so-fun item to discuss... a mouse. In our garage. I saw it there this morning, first time. I can't knock the shudder that keeps running up my back as I re-picture it, trying to scurry up the corner of the concrete wall, then scrambling behind some boxes in the back. Ew. EEEWWWW! I bought some traps and put them out, in the garage and in the house. Yucky. Don't worry -- if I catch it, I won't put up a picture, okay? (Good thing the computer's broken, right?)

 One more something, then I'll close for tonight. I found a great recipe for chicken in a recipe book my mom sent me. I "tweaked" it quite a bit and made it my own, -- made it even better. And it is delightful! And fairly healthy. I'm calling Italian Smothered Chicken. It makes me happy just thinking about it. It will be our dinner on Sunday -- better than the Eggplant Parmigiana we served to the missionaries two weeks ago. Now I can hardly wait until Sunday. Mmmm.... Here's hoping my husband is free to join us for the delectableness!!

Bye for now. I'm just going to read one more chapter in that book, while I wait for Brian...