Things have been crazy around here. Dh is putting in insane amounts of overtime at work and I’ve been hit with some sort of lingering bug. Very similar to the flu, but less intense and more prolonged. I find myself just wishing I would either get sick or get better. This limbo’d state of “yuck” is wearing me down. I keep telling myself to hang in there until tomorrow. Tomorrow Dh has day off. Tomorrow I might get to take a nap, and spend a few moments sans children.

Anyway, there have been some big changes in our home. Namely a new computer. I’m really excited about this new system. Our old one was on it’s last leg. Nearly five years old. That’s practically dinosaur in the dating of computers.

As cool as it is to have a new computer, I’m still stuck in that half of my programs are on the old computer. I find myself unable to completely do anything in it’s entirety. I can’t find the CD’s for my adobe photoshop, and therefore can’t do any image post-processing on my new computer. Not to mention the new monitor hasn’t been calibrated yet. Oh, and we don’t have Microsoft Office on this system. No Word, No Excell… gah. I have that old CD to upload it if I want to, but imagine that in the last few years even those programs have had some upgrades.

I hate to spend the $$ to add the features. So for now, I am working on two separate computers.

Don’t worry, I’m only sort of complaining. Because, after all, I’ve got a new computer.

In other news, today my mom, sister, kiddos, and I went to the Peppermint Baby Boutique and watched The Business of Being Born. The documentary was everything I ever expected it to be, and then some. And the new boutique is a babywearer’s paradise.

But more on that later…

I’ve been tagged by Gwen for a meme of seven random facts about me.

Seven Random Facts

1. I speak three languages. Two of which are useless to me in America.

2. When I was a kid I used to suck on bullion cubes. I’d sneak them and eat them. I’m sure my mom wondered where all her bullion cubes were disappearing to. lol.

3. I listen to rap music in the car, Indie music on my computer, and I have a subscription to Dave Ramsey’s pod cast with itunes.

4. I am a born, not raised, Texan. So -despite wanting to- I can’t put the bumper sticker “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could” on my car.

5. My first job was as a Barista at a local independent coffee shop.

6. I used to teach swimming to 1st and 2nd graders.

7. I got my PADI Dive License as soon as I was legally able. Too bad it’s now missing, as it was stolen with my wallet three years ago.

* * * * * * *

Game of Blog Tag Rules:
*Link to the person that tagged you.
*Post the rules on your blog.
*Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
*Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
*Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

* * * * * * *
Tagging: Suzanne, Emily, Jenn, Carol, Rose, Cheri, and Echo.

Last night, on the news, I was surprised to hear a feature story on the proposed Texas T-Bone Corridor. The Texas T-Bone is a high speed rail connection between Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio; with proposed connections to Fort Hood. A train ticket and an hour of rail travel would be all We’d need to visit the gulf, or my sister, or spend the weekend in San Antonio at Sea World.

I’m so excited about the idea, I can hardly stand myself.

According to the news report, final completion isn’t even scheduled until 2020. And that’s assuming they don’t get an all out Texas sized war when it comes to building this thing across farm and ranch property.

Yet, still. A girl can dream. Can’t she?

The theme for this week is “Lighthouse” and the vocabulary word is “Beacon.” We lucked out and were able to find one book on the library list and then I found another photography book on the lighthouses in Maine. I also have a TON of nautical stuff around the house to use, so we’re doing better this week than last.

I tell you what, though, the lack of available material at our Public Library is surprising and sad all at once. They never have any of the books I’d like to read and now, it seems, they don’t have much for the kids. I mean, they have a sizable children’s section. So why is it so hard to find books based on themes? I can totally see why some parents just bite the bullet and buy curriculum. That way you KNOW you’re going to have everything you need. No scrounging around and substituting.

I tried searching for lighthouse type activities to do in the DFW Metroplex, and am coming up empty handed. Apparently they don’t build them in area’s that are landlocked. *chuckle*

In other news, we’re switching our Raw Milk provider. Our Coop will now be getting our milk from Nors Dairy in Abbott, Tx. Next Monday will be our first day using their milk, and I’m curious to see if there’s much difference. I have tentative plans to organize a farm day with the girls to go down and visit the farm. I know they’ll love to see the cows.

My mom and I also have sketchy unformed plans to head out to an Alpaca Ranch just NE of us. One of the ladies in our spinning guild raises ten Alpaca’s out there and said they’ve got a little shop open to visitors.

Speaking of spinning guild. Did I mention I have found a new obsession?

Spinning!

My husband groans every time I mention it. I’ve promised him that I’ll start small while I’m working on honing my knitting skills. My plan is to make myself a drop spindle from an old CD and dowel rod. He (my husband) still maintains that I’ve lost my mind. hee hee.

Doesn’t matter. I’m still really on excited about it. I have four ounces of Icelandic Wool to spin, and then a lady at the guild gave me some silk, mohair, and cotton to try once I master wool spinning. Can you just feel the excitement? I’m practically tingling thinking about it.

My parents took my two eldest to go to their cousin’s birthday party in Austin. I have the whole day to myself. Just me and the baby. So why can’t I figure out what to do with myself? Seriously, this is the dialog going round and round in my head:

“I should do something, what should I do? Should I clean? I hate cleaning! Why waste this time on cleaning! But then, the place DOES need cleaned… Wonder if there’s something else I could do? Something fun? Why am I so lost?”

Suggestions would be welcome. lol.

One of the missionary kids I grew up with now writes as a travel correspondence for Gather. His most recent article had me almost in tears I was laughing so hard. Go ahead, check it out.

An excerpt for those still skeptical:

To get the shots, I straddled the gap between the boats. The distance between the two fluctuated slightly, but not enough that I worried about falling into the water. After taking several pictures — and perhaps after having been lulled by the band singing John Lennon’s Imagine– I stood upright, ready to hop back into my boat. I forgot about the overhang, though, and in an uncanny act of timing my head rose into the overhang just as the two boats were being pushed together by the sea. Instantly my head was in a vice-grip that had the potential to crush my skull. I fully expected — and had a mental picture of — the contents of my head exploding out of my face.