Hello my beautiful (and handsome) siblings!
My deepest apologies for going AWOL.
And to Sean.
I feel like plopping down into a plush chair here (especially now that the House has been aired out). I missed you all so much! I can't believe I stayed away so long! I am surprised anew at how
Tonise managed when she gave up the internet and FB for spiritual reasons. Popping in just doesn't do it for me.
My Twitter and FB showed where I was part of the time. At the beginning of my kids' spring break, we took a little driving tour around northern Arizona, and visited the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert, Walnut Canyon which is an archeological site where you can walk down to the ruins of Native American cliff dwellings, and the Grand Canyon! We even walked a mile down into the Canyon, hugging the cliffside all the way and warning the little girls to be careful. (They were wonderful.) Now my son wants to do an overnighter, where we hike down one day, camp at the bottom, and hike back out the next day. I want to go too, and I think my son and hubby boy think I can't do it. I can! I'm going to train ... somehow without losing more sleep.
Then since we've been back I've been working my behind off at work and around the house, and I don't have much to show for it except paychecks and finally not being behind, but that's good. I will be postponing my purchase of a new computer, though, because our 8 year old minivan has finally given out on us, and needs to be traded in before the problem becomes obvious. Now we will have payments, which we've avoided for awhile. Oh well. I tried to post a bit more at the party, but my mobile stopped cooperating with me. It was fun reading though! To the posts - this is not comprehensive over the past 15+ pages, but just hits the high points.
Jaclyn - CONGRATULATIONS! I am happy for you that everything not only was emotionally perfect, but also externally perfect. What good planning! You will have to give us a pronunciation guide to your new last name, which looks very pretty, BTW. And also BTW, the advice I had was not targeted to trying new things when *baking,* although that's certainly fun. It was most basic - about not letting silly things get in the way of the physical side of your marriage.
Amy - Your brother falling asleep at the wheel sounds very scary. I'm glad he's ok! I saw your Southern Comfort pic at the party, and it was one of my early favorite drinks. We will have to get together at HHCon! I usually mix mine with Coke.
Ashley -I hope your greatgrandfather is continuing to recover well. Hubby boy and I are big Once Upon A Time fans! I grew up on classic fairytales, not just the Disney version, and so I love seeing the twists and turns everything takes. We are getting a little frustrated at the lack of a new episode, though, especially after it was teased. Any thoughts on whether Adam Horowitz is related to Josh Horowitz?
Caryn -
Are you ok?
Ginnie - Always love to see you on Twitter and FB. Hope you are doing well - I think of you often.
JennJenn - That's great that you're moving to California - I think it's *back* to California, right? It sounds as though you might be much more comfortable there. Of course you're taking your lovely daughter with you. Is hubs coming too? Do you know where you will be living? You might be the new farthest-west Lex person. I love the fun of moving!
Lynne - I would LOVE to read the first chapter of your novel while waiting for the whole thing to come out. I tried to PM you but I think my PM has been messed up for a while. Should I send you my email privately on FB? I was really interested in your take on THG. I thought - almost since the beginning, that Katniss was profoundly traumatized by her life, and that that was why she showed so little emotion. She was instinctively protective of more vulnerable people like Prim and Rue, and sometimes Peeta, but otherwise she seemed to view things by assessing is this safe or not? And is it useful to me or not? She seemed to me like someone who did not understand her own emotions. It's late, or I might write more. I did like Jennifer as Katniss, although I always picture Katness to be much thinner from years of near starvation. I thought Josh was great as Peeta, but the casting of Woody Harrelson as Haymitch was inspirted. I'm sorry reading this other ladies' book is turning out to be so difficult. I hope you can find the right balance to make it helpful to the other author.
Marielle - That's great that you're working on your fanfic! Mine is languishing in my laptop.
Sean - It's great that you've got more money coming in! You sound like you've made a nice balanced plan between blowing it all and saving it.
Songbird - Rob Kareoke cracks me up! You and the other singers can perform while I am an enthusiatic and supportive member of the audience, singing off-key. I laughed about your dream. You may recall that I don't remember my dreams, but like Susie I have had that daydream often, where Rob and Kris somehow end of at my house where I help them hide out from the papz for a few days ... it never involves a forehead kiss though
Susie - Thanks for the party! Boy we're going to have fun in Chicago! Didja see the Rob-biting-lip still I tried to get it there for you?
Suzan - Congratulations on your internship! That was fabulous news. Somehow, even though I've never met you in person, I felt like you were the kind of person to persevere and make it. Loved your jumping Rob pics (teehee!) and your fanfic too, which didn't seem to want to let me review those days. It's a very sweet story, and I'm interested to see where it goes...
Tonise - Thanks for the HHCon update, and everything you do!
Tracy - I like bluegrass every once in a while. Sounds like I should check out THG soundtrack.
Ok, two things to wrap up with. The first comes from hubby boy. He states that he thinks a movie called "44 Inch Chest" is a wonderful example of a very masculne romance, and asked you all to consider watching it with your significant others and seeing what they think. Tonight he corrected himself, and said it's great if you can look past the violent gangster stuff, and a little domestic violence. I said, well we love controlling mass-murderer Edward, so maybe we can get past it - or maybe we don't want to try.
The other thing is that I have a Barnes and Noble gift card and am considering buying a Nook. Anyone have any Nook v Kindle advice?
Now I'm truely tired. Night all! See you much sooner! Gonna pass out in this nice comfy plush chai ....
I'm so happy you've decided to move. I know your living situation there and I can imagine some of your stress. You are totally doing the right thing and it is good that you noticed that the stress is affecting your daughter too. Good thing I can fly to CA as well as KY!!
