Monday, July 31, 2006

Back in the Saddle again

I'm back online. I wouldn't bore my few faithful readers with all the details, but a few short summaries will be coming along. My computer kept locking up and my email died. So after my favorite local techie, JMS, set me up with a new computer (new meaning a new model that he got out of the trash at work), we discovered that the old computer had a bad keyboard. Bummer, but the email must have a bug, as it hasn't recovered. So I have missed having email for about a month. I thought about getting a hotmail or yahoo account, but didn't. We are still shuffling computers as Jess will take my old white eMac back to HU. Crazy.

Mark and I went down to HU to get Jess. It's a long trip but we managed to squeek in some fun in Branson on the way home. Jess was lucky enough to get her old job back at the retirement home serving meals. She works a full shift about 5 days a week and has made some good money in her month at home. The rest of her time is full of checking up on her buds on Facebook, reading and talking on the phone. She took the train to Peoria by herself to see her bf (best friend) Rachel. It was a practice trip for both of us for her summer in Florence next summer. She got hit on by an old (30 something) black guy on the way home. She told him he was too old for her, but he felt it necessary to give her his number anyway. She was GLAD to get off the train. :) She gets to go back to school in 2 weeks. That's soon.

Hannah has been to church camp one week, then band camp, then another week of band camp and now church camp again. When she's not at camp, she's trying to go out there and see all her friends who were camping. Then a strange thing happened this last week at band camp, some sophomore boy noticed her. We didn't really see this coming, but she was not bummed by the attention and is thinking that high school might be ok after all. Yikes!! We knew we had 20 years of teenagers but each time it will be the same but different.

Katherine was supposed to be at camp with H this week. She was so excited that she was getting to go, BUT last week I took her to the dr for an infected mosquito bite. (Our good dr says "bloody pus is a good reason to bring the kids in to see him.:) Bless her heart she has a staph infection and would not tolerate the 100+ temps on her meds that require LOTS of water, plus who would want a germy kid in their cabin---not this mom. So she is home, playing cards and watching tv, eating her snacks. We'll get it checked out again tomorrow as Miss Abby has bloody pus coming from her "boo boo." Germ warfare has a new meaning around here.

Emily is totally excited about kindergarten. She got to choose her backpack and we got the school supplies. She opens up her backpack everyday and checks out her stuff. She was spelling words in the car tonight. She counts by 2s and 5s and may not be too far behind the other kids who got to go to preschool instead of being stuck at home with mom. lol.

Of course the kids start the same day Jess is due back. Jess is working as a group leader for the freshmen orientation or she would be due back after the kids started. We'll have to figure that one out. This Super Mom needs to be here for the first day of school AND take Jess back. Yikes!!

Mark has had more drama at work than one could ever blog. The long and short of it would be if anyone needs a database guru, resumes are available. A job at MO school district, preferably in KC would be sweet as he has 6 years until he can retire. But with all the crazy stuff happening, he is OPEN to any corporate, public school, private school database (or lawnmowing) job. He has been through a lot and we'll be happy when we've learned why we had to learn all these lessons on patience, faith and trust. He has gotten to preach twice this month at Hickman and teach class--both big time fun for him. He performed a wedding this last Sat for our friends' daughter. It was so nice and so fun and we are so NOT ready to go thru the "wedding years" around here. :)

My jogging days got stalled. It's the story of my life, once I start seeing results, something happens that sabotages myself. After I ran my all time high of 12 laps--3 1/2 miles, I got a weird pain in my hip. It hurt for a couple days and then quit. Then it started again the next time I ran. So after consulting my local grapevine, one grape told me it was a serious injury (b/c her sister had the same thing) and only professional athletes get it and no impact activities were allowed. My other grape (aka my sister) suggested tendonitis, as she has had it several times. So I started walking in my neighborhood as we have some nice hills. My hip doesn't bother me, so I'm not sure if I'll try some jogging again. It's been so HOT that I haven't missed it. Jess went with me tonight on my walk. I couldn't keep up with her. Just like her Gramma, we used to try to keep up with the other and go faster and faster. My shorts are reminding me that I'm not running as I was. May have to give up some ice cream, bummer.

Time for bed now. I blogged more than I meant to. I'll have to share my big laugh of last week later. Prob have some more things to share too. Always another blog. I even sent myself the password so I can get on here again. Clever.