Works For Me Wednesday: Developing A Routine

I wrote this previously, and hadn’t posted it yet. This week we are camping and doing school. That’s what I call flexible!

(So when you were a kid, maybe you walked all the way to school with your brother on your back. But did you DO school with your brother on your back?)

Somewhere online there is a blog(s) who host something called "Works For Me Wednesday". I won't take the time to find it now, but decided to post something that works for me anyway...

September 15, 2009

They say summer is not yet over, so I am having a hard time moving on. Don’t get me wrong. I love fall! We had planned to be gone on vacation all week, but my husband had to go out of town on business for part of that time, so we had to cancel.

All week I have been researching, buying the rest of our curriculums, and doing lots of miscellaneous tasks which needed my attention NOW. And I have been trying to ease my school aged children into the first days of school. In so doing, I am reminded how much better we function when we have a routine.

I have written before about how, a few times, words spoken at a home school conference have made an impact on my daily life. One such time was (probably at least 10 years ago) when Inge Canon talked about flexibility in homeschooling. She laughingly referred to those homeschoolers who would say “Oh, I don’t know what we are going to do today. We’ll see what comes up and learn from it. After all, I want to be flexible!”. Everyone laughed – because most of us know someone like that.

Now if I had good graphics skilz, I would make a moving picture of a stick bending and unbending and insert it here. But I don’t. So I will just put a picture of one up. As you look at it, imagine bending it. It is flexible. But that is because you have something to flex!

If we don’t start with a basic framework, we are not being flexible, we are being haphazard!

Now I have tried many of the scheduling programs and books out there. None of them work for me. So I have done many things over the years and tried to adapt it to my current situation. Some years it has been calendar pages, some it has been planning books or various other things. But I put it somewhere in writing, where I can follow it and make changes as needed. This helps me be flexible!

For my kids, I have set aside special time with each of them (and a cup of tea) to discuss their routine. This way I don’t forget anything, and they know they have had input to their schedules. It is also a great time to go over each part of their curriculum with them. If you review it periodically, it gives another opportunity to discuss where you or they can make changes or do something better. This is also a tangible way I can teach my kids to have discipline in their lives, and to learn what it truly means to be flexible!

Having a routine -- so I can truly be flexible, works for me!

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23: Ruminations I, II

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am reading through the above titled book with a group of women at church. After such a great and life changing book last year, I was skeptical that the book selection this year could come even close. But, once again, my friend and pastor’s wife, Diane, has selected a book that meets me where I am.

The man who wrote this book was an actual shepherd, he lived amongst shepherds, so he observed the habits of shepherds and sheep in ways those of us who live in urban societies cannot. As a result, his insight into being both a shepherd and a sheep is enlightening in many ways.

The Lord is my shepherd… (Psalm 23:1) Chapter 1

The author says this statement “immediately implies a profound yet practical working relationship between a human being and his Maker.” He also points out that “our view of Him is often too small –- too cramped --too provincial – too human. And because it is, we feel unwilling to allow Him to have authority or control – much less outright ownership of our lives.”

Wow. This is so true. When I am upset or overwhelmed,when I am worried about relationships, finances, etc. I am not totally trusting Him. I am limiting the One who created me, who I “belong to simply because He deliberately chose to create me as the object of His own affection”. I am also taking control over myself, thus unconsciously implying that I am greater than He who is in me. That’s pretty embarrassing.

It reminds me of a song I know, and I am using it as a prayer as I ruminate on this chapter.

“I have made Him too small in my eyes. Oh Lord, forgive me. I have believed in a lie, that You are unable to help me… be magnified, Oh Lord, be magnified”

“… the greater , the wider, the more majestic my concept is of the Christ – the more vital will be my relationship to Him.” ~ Phillip Keller

I shall not be in want… (Psalm 23:2) Chapter 2

A particular ewe which was owned by the author, he named Mrs.Gadabout because, even when she had lush pastures and great living conditions, she was always looking to see what was on the other side of the fence. Not only would she get into trouble and danger, but she taught her young to do so, and led the other sheep to wander as well.

It seemed this point stood out to many in my group. We all do this at times. But the true realization that our Shepherd has truly provided us with everything we need would prevent us from this mentality. We don’t want to teach our wandering ways to our young, or to others who may be looking to us as an example of what it means to follow the Good Shepherd. He has provided us with everything we need.

“But because they belong to Christ and have recognized Him as Lord and master of their lives, their owner and manager, they are permeated by a deep, quiet, settled peace that is beautiful to behold.”

How many people do you know who possess this peace? When I observe it in someone, and it is in precious few that I see it, their peace is catching. Being around them, or reading their writings, I also begin to feel that deep, quiet, settled peace. There is a grandma at our church from whom I feel this, even when I simply pass her in the hall. My own grandmother has this peace. There was a lady in our community, who died last year just before her 102nd birthday, who blessed me and deeply impacted me with her quiet spirit. She was not a quiet person, she was a teacher, but her spirit was settled. The well known writer Elisabeth Elliot, conveys this peace to me as I read her insights and her musings about her life.

As I think of these four people who first come to mind, it occurs to me that they are all elderly. They have had a lifetime to realize their dependence on Him. Oh, that I could realize it NOW!

“I will keep thee in perfect peace whose eyes are stayed on Me.” Isaiah 26:3

Memories On Wheels

(My husband painted this wall hanging several years ago. We were at a Family Camp and the assignment was to make a banner that represented your family. You can see many of our interests included in it, as well as a stork, symbolizing the new baby that was on his way!)

So here I am, camping in our well aged trailer, at the coast with 4 of my kids, having been awakened very early by the bold and hungry raccoons foraging for any scrap of food they might find.

There was a predicted 40% chance of rain. I’ve discovered that means there is a 100% chance that 40% of your belongings will be soaked. Thus, the entry rug up on the table, the tarp over the dog run, and all of the swimming holes in what was a perfectly convenient campsite a couple days ago.

(It is WET. The white spots you see is more rain. Everything is soggy.)

I say aged because this trailer is definitely not of the sort you mostly see being used this time of year. Most of the people out in trailers and RV’s this time of year on the coast are the type who spend a good deal of time in their “homes on wheels”. So they have alot of bells and whistles, like slide outs, rear mounted cameras for easier backing out, washing machines and such. So we are a study in contrast, both by our trailer and by it’s occupants.

Really, our trailer is middle aged, as trailers go. It was made in about the early to mid 90’s. And I think it’s been stored outside all of it’s life. Most winters it grows a crop of moss on the front end and the grass grows up tall around the wheels. And the decor, well… I always thought it would be fun to repaper it in a flamingo print. Flamingoes are so very trailer-ish in a retro kind of way. But it has remained as it came to us. And it’s pretty trailer-ish in a 90’s kind of way. Yes, it’s definitely modest by any standard!

I say “well” aged because we have so many fond memories in this humble little trailer. Some of them did not seem so nice at the time, like our maiden voyage when our transmission went out and we had to camp at a horrible and dirty KOA right off of a freeway. But it forced us to be together because there was nothing else to do. Of course, not knowing how much $$$ we were going to have to fork out added to the stress, but today, 5 or 6 years later, it is one of our favorite memories.

(Here is the dinette and the couch. Both fold out into double beds.)

Then there was the very last extended family camping trip where my grandpa joined us, the summer before his 90th birthday. My aunt had also just been through a grueling battle with colon cancer (which she won and is doing great today!). What a precious memories we made that weekend.

(Kitchen area with sleeping quarters behind. Doors you see are the fridge and freezer. Between the fridge and the back is the bathroom door but you can’t see it very well.)

I do love tent camping and miss it at times. But as I sit here in the rain, on the very wet Oregon coast, as my daughter is finishing her math lesson at the little table, a son is reading a book about Pocahontas on his bunk and an older son is laughing at a 2 year old who burped loudly as they sip together on bottles of juice on the bench seat, I am reminded again how grateful I am that we have this little trailer, so perfectly suited to our family.

(Bunkhouse)

But things are temporary, and this too shall pass.

Mostly I am grateful for the opportunities this little trailer has afforded us to create memories that will last forever.

A Perfect Pairing

Just thought I’d tell you about some little wafers of wonderful.

Paired with a perfect cup of my favorite chai tea.

I wanted you to know I was enjoying them while camping so I took the photo on the lovely trailer upholstery.

Not too sweet. Tastes homemade, like something I could have whipped up in my own kitchen.

Especially good when dunked.

The label did say Trader Joes, but it got torn off somehow.

I love the obscure items I can find there. Do you have a favorite TJ’s item?

Menu Plan Monday, September 21-27

Yep, I do.

And I highly encourage YOU to start preparing a meal plan too - whether you blog or not. It makes life so much easier. It helps you think ahead and coordinate your meals with your activities. And it saves money too, because you don’t buy too much extra fluff, AND you use up what you have. This is also one practical way I can use to help me live with purpose. I feel such a difference in my daily life when I do this vs, when I don’t. And I suspect my family feels it too!

Before I begin my menu post though, I want to give you, my fellow soup lovers, a head’s up -- my Soup’s On Saturday Weekly Carnival begins October 4th. Please feel free to link to your blog post about soup once per week. You can read more info here. Also, at any time, check my side bar for links to lots of soups from last fall’s S.O.S. You can also go to my side bar and pick up my adorable SOS button for your own blog.

Okay, now for my menu…

Monday: Back To School Day (One son back to college today, younger kids start full day home school). I wanted to make something hot for breakfast that those in a hurry could grab and go.

B- Breakfast Burritos with ham, potatoes, eggs and cheese I will make in crockpot (line the greased crockpot with the shredded potatoes and put the eggs and ham inside. That way you will not get as much of a crust on the eggs)

L- Leftover Zucchini-Potato Pancakes ( I made a huge batch last week so we’d have leftovers)

D- Pork Loin with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce cooked very slowly

To Do:

Soak Lentils

Tuesday: Book Club in morning and at backpacking lecture in evening -- quick breakfast, easy lunch, crockpot dinner

B - Granola

L – Bean and Cheese Burritos/ Quesadillas

D – Lentil Soup with ham hock, serve with cottage cheese on top

To Do:

Soak beans

Soak grains for buns

Wednesday

B- Smoothies with homemade yogurt

L- Pinto Beans made in crockpot served with Cornbread

D- Barbeque Beef and Bean sandwiches with Homemade Buns (I have to let mine raise longer and adapt slightly to let grains soak)

To Do:

Soak grains for bread

Thursday:

B- Fruity Baked Oatmeal (use this basic recipe but am going to play around with it to try to avoid so much sugar)

L- Sandwiches (Turkey, Ham or PBJ)

D- Scrabble Soup with homemade bread (my daughter makes this in the breadmaker)

To Do:

Soak Grains for donuts

Soak grains for biscuits

Soak grains for pizza crust (or buy)

Defrost beef for muffins and roll up

Friday:

B- Whole Wheat Cake Donuts

L- Farmhouse BBQ Muffins (use homemade dough)

D- Bacon Cheeseburger Roll Up

To Do:

Soak grains for cornbread

Defrost beef for soup on Sunday

Saturday:

Leftovers and Open Kitchen Day

To Do:

Brown beef for soup

Soak Grains for cornbread

Sunday

Morning:

Start Cornbread in bread maker

Start soup in crockpot

B- Overnight Oatmeal (my own version of this recipe)

L- Taco Soup (on my sister’s blog) with Cornbread

D- Popcorn, yogurt, etc.

Also this week make:

I can’t find my Nourishing Traditions book. That’s what I get for loaning things out and not writing it down! That is why I am including links. However, I do use the NT recipes.

Sauerkraut

Cortido

Pickled Beets

To see over 300 other weekly meal plans, go to www.orgjunkie.com and check out what's been linked this week.

Have a great week!

I Want To Know My Shepherd

The women at our church will be starting book clubs this week. Last year, the book club was based on A.W. Tozer’s book “The Pursuit of God”. I learned so much by reading the book, but I know I would not have learned nearly as much if I had not had the insights of all of the other ladies in my club. I made lasting friendships in that group, and the book is life changing.

So I have high hopes for this year’s book club too. We are reading A Shepherd’s Look at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller. I am looking forward to applying this Psalm to my life in ways I have not before.

When I think about Jesus as my Shepherd, I feel safe. I look forward to knowing that feeling of being cared for even more. What does it mean to “know” the Shepherd? How well do I really “know” him? So a few weeks ago I decided to dig a little deeper, and started digging up other tidbits I can find about Psalm 23.

I located the beautiful story below, and thought I would share it with you. My prayer for you on this Sunday morning, and for me, is to Know the Shepherd in a way that makes others stop and listen.

 

There once was a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man shows of readings and recitations from the classics.  He would always end his performance with a reading of Psalm 23.

Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation--"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" ...  the crowd would listen attentively. And then, at the conclusion of the psalm, they would rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor's incredible ability to bring the verse to life.

But one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up.  "Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite Psalm 23"?

The actor was quite taken aback by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and stand front and center on the stage to recite the Psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent.

With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the Psalm. When he was finished, there was no applause.  There was no standing ovation as on other nights.  All that could be heard was the sound of weeping. The audience had been so moved by the young man's recitation that every eye was full of tears.

Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, "I don't understand.  I have been performing Psalm 23 for years.  I have a lifetime of experience and training-but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight.  Tell me, what is your secret?"

The young man quietly replied, "Well sir, you know the Psalm....I know the Shepherd."

 

Grateful From The Depths of Me

Tonight when I tucked her in, I lingered a little longer as I kissed her hair. Her It’s-been-a-little-too-long-between-perms, smells-like-hair-moisturizer nappy head. And I took the time to find the exact spot on her nose bridge that I have quickly kissed so many times.

Today was the 8 year anniversary of the day that began the scariest time of our lives. My husband’s tearful voice did not tell me what was wrong until I got home. But I knew it was something very, very bad. The phone call from the adoption agency had come. We hadn’t expected to hear anything from them. They informed us that we were going to have to give our precious daughter back. They said they had already explored every possible legal option, and there was no hope.

8 years later, it haunts me. One day I will be brave and I will speak of it. Not today.

I cannot fathom my life without her.

She is here

with

me,

I tucked her in tonight.

Yes, I lingered a little longer on her perfectly curly head and kissed her kissing spot again, for the 2,920th night since that day. And not one has gone by without a tremendous feeling of gratefulness that God chose for her to be here with me.

Meal Plan Thursday

I am aching to get back in the saddle. So I didn't want to wait until Monday for this. When I post it for you it is also so nicely laid out for me.

With school starting, I am having to be more careful about how I manage my time. Especially if I still want to do fun stuff with my kids. Which I do. Also, my two oldest boys start their college schedule again next week and I won't be seeing as much of them so want to make the most of these next few days.

As I have said many times before, things always run so much more efficiently when I have a plan.

Being Purposeful.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Come back Monday, for lots more meal ideas, when I hope to be back in time for orgjunkie's linky.



Thursday (that's today):
Dinner-
Zucchini Potato Pancakes with toppings (sour cream, cheese, green onion, ranch)
Fried Eggs

TO DO:
Soak grains for pancakes

Boil Eggs, Cook bacon for sandwiches

Soak grains for buns (possibly)

Soak beans for Tortilla Pie and thaw ground beef (if decide to add)



Friday:
Breakfast - Whole Wheat Blender Pancakes

Lunch - Bacon and Egg Salad Sandwiches, possibly on homemade buns (which I have to let rise longer than this recipe calls for)

Dinner - 7 Layer Tortilla Pie (This is my link to another link. I wanted to make sure I include my special instructions for how I make it)

TO DO:
Soak grains for muffins
Sugar nuts for salad
Thaw pork for Sunday

Saturday:
Breakfast -Ultimate Muffins (my adaptation)

We will probably grab something quick for a light lunch. The rest of the day will be at a family event for my MIL's birthday. I am bringing a yummy salad, my favorite potluck item to eat and to bring.

TO DO:
Soak beans for Chalupa

Sunday:
Breakfast - Granola
Lunch - My version of this Chalupa served with brown rice, corn and flour tortillas, sour cream, cheese, avocado
Dinner - Light snacks and popcorn for Family Time

Hiker Chicks:Adventure One, The Rest Of The Story

Sorry I cut that last post off so abruptly. I had just realized the time and knew my son needed to be picked up in less than 10 minutes…

So anyway, as I was saying, I was pretty worried about the weight of my pack. For good reason. It was heavy. But I think most of us ended up with packs that heavy. And I can’t say that next time it will be any lighter, because I can’t think of anything I could have left out!

 

Something very remarkable about our group is that none of us is particularly known for our current athleticism. We are all moms, of varying shapes and sizes and fitness levels. Some of the ladies were sick, or had been sick, or recovering from injuries. Several of the ladies have suffered heartbreaking losses over the past few years, one of them just in May.

This trail has some very difficult trails, switchbacks which were very steep for 2+ miles. Add that to our packs and we were working really hard to make it all the way up.

Much of the trail was very dense, but then it would open up to beautiful vistas, as far as the eye could see. 

These glimpses of God’s creative genius stirred in us again that knowledge that there is Someone bigger than we are, and gave us the wherewithal to keep moving UP (thanks Daniele for  nagging cheering us up there). Isn’t that something -- that He gave us this strenuous physical exercise, somewhat symbolic of something each of us was, or had been, facing? Once we got up there we marveled in the beauty that we got to enjoy all by ourselves ,

  

…then we started setting up camp by pitching tents, refilling our bottles with filtered water and gathering wood before it got dark. Then we settled down for our meals of rehydrated food (augmented at times by wild huckleberries as big a huge blueberries!). That packaged food was a taste adventure in and of itself. We definitely have a list of the good and the bad! (Hint: Stay with the Mac and don’t do the Kung Pao).

We had some heartfelt sharing times around the fire, a little futile unsuccessful fishing, some icy cold swims and alot of giggling in our tents about how awkward it was to get dressed and then comfy in such a small space. I tell ya, the expectation by REI that anyone can sleep all tangled up in a twisted mermaid cocoon inside a cocoon sleeping bag is waaayy off. That’s what we were laughing about in my tent. Mer-Cocoons. 

We had a beautiful day hike to a lower lake, and some of us took an icy swim (you might guess who by the fact that there are no pictures displayed here).

Some even thought they saw a bear. But we were not afraid (see below). Can you see the Bible on one side and the pistol on the other?

Nope. We were not afraid!

 

The hike back down was much easier. It was fun to get to enjoy the different terrain and water crossings in a way we did not get to on the way up.

It was sweet and sweaty, alot of laughter and some tears, and a reminder of why I say “DO HARD THINGS”! It was truly one of the most difficult physical things I have ever done, but I am so glad I did it.

And we got to share it together.

Good job ladies. I am so proud of all of us!

Hiker Chicks: Adventure One, Part One

If you know me very well, you know I’d much rather be doing something out of doors than inside. Especially if that includes water, the scent of pine needles and good company. And I don’t mind roughing it. I mean, I like to look pretty and do my nails and stuff. And I prefer to be clean. But I can handle the rough stuff too. In fact, I really do enjoy it.

I live in a state that is known for it’s diverse and beautiful surroundings. Within a couple hours, I have desert or beach or mountains. I love them all, but especially the mountains with the forest scents and wildlife -- and lots of natural bodies of water.

I had been discussing this interest with a couple friends all year. We had been discussing organizing some kind of an active activity for awhile. We discussed camping and white water rafting, but, with busy mom schedules, neither one seemed to work out this year. But, thanks to my two gal pals, it finally worked out, and they organized a backpacking trip for us.

Ohhh, the anticipation!

A 3 day, 2 night adventure taking us up a trail that was somewhere between 6.5 and 8 miles long (depending on which routes we took), each way, up into the mountains.

I mean backpacking. Trekking. Hiking with a pack that weighs more than it should, out into the wilderness. Pitching tents, sleeping in the woods. There are no sinks, no toilets, no hair dryers. Just lakes and trees and bears and stuff. And us. Girls.

Here we are at the trailhead

Now, I have hiked before. And I have camped aplenty. But I have never hiked with a pack carrying all of my camping gear, into the middle of, well, nowhere. I did not have a pack.

Nor a backpacking kind of sleeping bag, cuz it all has to be light and compact.

Nor a sleeping mat. Not an air mattress, but a light mat rolled tightly.

Nor a tent.

Thank Heaven REI has a rental program! And I guess that’s another nice thing about friends. You are all different, with different experiences. And those other two ladies have had this experience and had equipment for me to borrow. And we each had another friend or two. So there were eight ladies planning to go, and equipment to borrow or rent or buy.

We had to each figure out what we were going to eat – and pack it in our packs.

And what we were going to wear (do I want to make sure I am warm? But if I bring warm clothes my pack will be heavier)…

and sleep on…

and wash with…

and I wanted to fish…

and our Bibles and journals…

and cameras of course…

and, and, AND….MY PACK IS TOO HEAVY!

The night before we left I kept packing and repacking my backpack. I was trying to find more stuff to take out. Cuz it sure seemed heavy. I really did try to get it down to the bare necessities. Which ended up weighing somewhere between 30-35 pounds when all was said and done. Which I was going to wear on my back. All the way. Up, Up, UpthEmoUntAinTrail. On my back, connected to my hips and my shoulders. Which are still all wiggly and loose from childbirth, even now almost three years later (that’s another post for another day!).

Oops, just ran out of time for this post. Duty calls (and I don’t mean I have to go to the bathroom!). I will have to tell you more in my next post! I will have to scroll up and add “Part One” to my title. Good night…

Take Heart Oh Ye Of Thunder Thighs

Did you hear the news? Having Thunder Thighs may be good for your health.

“In a study released Thursday, men and women whose thighs measured less than about 24 inches in circumference were found to have an increased risk for both heart disease and death, Dr. Berit Heitmann of Copenhagen University Hospital and colleagues reported online in the British Medical Journal.

"Smaller thighs are a disadvantage to health and survival for both sexes," the researchers said.”

Hey, I don’t make the news, I just tell you about it.

I amused myself thinking of my own thighs and all of the smart quips I could make to my skinny friends. Or to my fat friends with skinny thighs.

Almost as entertaining to consider is that I looked up Thunder Thighs on Wikipedia to get an actual definition. It was listed as a musical group! I could speculate on what their top five songs might be…or maybe you can leave ideas in my comments.

The actual definition and sample sentences are hilariously funny.

“A pejorative term for a person with large thighs, alluding to the sound of thighs hitting against each other.

Person 1: Whoa, check out thunder thighs over there. EARTHQUAKE!
Person 2: Actually, I think thunder thighs and wide hips are kinda hot.

An extremely overweight individual who cannot walk without their thighs making a thundering clap. “

Oh, the wonduh of the thunduh!

Clap On Sistuhs !

P.S. If any of you read this earlier, I did change the photo. Though it was accompanying one of teh articles about it, I felt it looked too much like I was laughing at someone. I do not want to ever come across that way. So now you get the pic of the girl who barely even has thighs, pinching her fat that is not there.)

Back On The Grid

 

After I posted my last post, I had the appointed phone call with AT&T where they were supposed to finish some paperwork and mail me my new aircard.

It was not simple. I went through the gauntlet. Again.

They rewarded me by telling me I did not have to wait for my aircard to arrive in the mail, but that I could go to a corporately owned AT&T store and, after the customer service person on the phone made a few notes on my account, I could walk away with my free aircard.

As it turned out, it was not quite that simple. I had to make yet another phone call and I still need to send in a rebate card, and check to make sure they credit my account $95.00. But I did walk away with my new aircard, which is compatible with my NEW HP laptop.

Could I be any more excited? My very own, brand new, not refurbished, not pre-owned computer!  It is beeeyoooouuutifullll!!!

I sure hope I can stay on track and write new posts at least a few times per week. More than that, I hope I can get caught up on all of your deep thoughts on your blogs and by your comments.

Honorarary Countdown…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodbye Hard Drive

A couple of months ago,


This boy

threw one of these

into one of these

With


To which I had added
and

which spilled on this


and ruined this


The only other computer at my disposal is a very old one.

We live in the country, so it is also on dial up. It takes a month of Sundays to get signed in, not to mention writing new posts and adding pictures.


That is one of the several reasons I have not yet gotten back to my blogging routine.


Neither have I been reading the blogs of many of you, my treasured bloggy friends.




HOWEVER,

I recently received this in the mail...



will soon be receiving this...

and, yes, THEN

I shall blog again.

I am looking forward to it and have begun a (hopeful) countdown.

6 Days... and counting...

P.S. Sorry for the sorta dorky layout, etc. Takes too long to try to make changes on this PC and dial-up.