Ok, been awhile since I had some free time to update — I know you all are just dying to find out what exciting stuff I’ve been up to….. Right? Well here goes…..

Finally arrived in NM. Sure is good to visit with the folks. Things tend to get a little tense around here because of the situation, but its all-good right??

So far we have…..

Visited the Gila Cliff Dwellings (major fun we all enjoyed the spectacular views, ride was a little trying though….)

Hiked Gomez Peak: didn’t quite make it all the way, DD forgot to pack shoes so we ended up buying her some tennies, which (since they were brand new) gave her nasty blisters that made it impossible for her to finish. Was beautiful but had to practically run to keep up with my dad — aren’t you supposed to slow down once you hit 70???

Took the kids to the swimming pool and movies — not very exciting but the kids all enjoyed it immensely. Saw Herbie Fully Loaded — very good. Even though Lindsay Lohan is doing some weird stuff personally right now, I still like her as an actress.

Visited Mother and Sister in Law in Albuquerque. That was very enjoyable. Went to Sizzling Summer fest, the Pueblo Indian Cultural Center and explored Old town. Good shopping and got some great pics of the Indian dancers. Very cool. Ate lots of good New Mexican food, especially in Truth or Consequences where we stopped for sopaipillas both on the way up and the way back…… muahhaahhhaahha…………

Now we are back in Silver, today I plan on: working on our trip to AZ, working on Dad’s computer and doing laundry ( I know, how can I stand the excitement????)

So all in all a pretty good trip so far…. hopefully will continue in this vein <saying quick prayer to the saint for travelers>.

I miss the hubby and the animals, and even my own place, but love seeing the “rents” and family. New Mexico is so beautiful, can’t wait till we can call it home.

Until then, just have to visit and make the most of it.

Alright… the countdown has begun.  Only two more days till we leave for NM. Hoorah!! I love living in this tropical paradise, but there are a few draw backs.

* The bugs — big ones, little ones, squirmy ones, jumping and biting ones. This includes the 3 inch flying cockroaches, and the 5 inch centipedes. <shivers violently — gross>

* The rodents — any mouse who will come out on the kitchen counter, while I am standing there cooking….. NOT GOOD.

* The fleas — ok, technically they fall into the first category (especially the jumping biting bugs) but I reserve a special hatred just for them.

* Lack of shopping — Can you say TARGET????? Jeesh, how many times can you go into a wally world???

* HUMIDITY — my hair hasn’t been anything close to straight or even not frizzy since last June. <heavy sigh> In other words, I’m having a bad hair YEAR!

* Inability to leave the island — ok, it’s pretty cool here, and there is ton to do especially if you like the ocean (which we do) but man I love to just drive to the next town and go shopping, have lunch for the day or even better yet, on spring break drive to visit family and friends. However, since my jeep does not have deep water capabilities — here I am…. ST UCK, Trapped like a rat.

* Cost — anything I would like to do here, is hampered by the extreme cost of living. Anytime milk costs $7.00 / gallon … you know you got some seriuos budgetary issues ahead.

* Heat — not so bad where we live, but because it’s cooler here — no air conditioning. Some days it’s really miserable. Fortunately, those days we can always head to the beach or the local pool to cool off.

* No decent radio stations — ok we get one out of Honolulu that’s ok when we can pick it up, however for the most part they have a hit station that spends all evening and weekend playing 80′s crap. I had to suffer through that the first time, I really feel no need to hear Boy George sing “you spin me right round, baby right round” EVER AGAIN FOR ANY REASON.

* No local TV stations — big deal you may say, however it makes a difference when the weather man only gives the weather for one island and it’s supposed to be beautiful (on the other island), you walk out your door and 15 minutes later you end up cold and wet because on your island — it supposed to rain all day.

* and finally — THE BUGS: big ones, little ones, squirmy ones, jumping and biting ones! As Silver_Fangz would say  EEEWWW……  

“I reject your reality and substitute my own”.  Adam Savage ~~ Myth Busters

Whee!! Last day of school — oh no!! Kids ALL DAY!! Just kidding. Only 1 week till we leave on vaca. Hoorah!!

Not much exciting happened today. Caught up on my house work ~ oh boy, major excitement. <heavy sigh> When did my life become so ……. boring!?!? 

Did have fun messing around with the MP3 player. I’m thinking a bigger one for myself may be in order. Of course I want a Mac too….. <dazes off in dream land> wish I was rich, or at least employed……. LOL. Well ~ soon maybe.

Ok, Well I’m off to find something else to screw up ~~

whew…. what a week end. Started Friday going to the brain doc to check on my brain cloud, in his opinion….. it’s still there ~~ Wow! Thank goodness I went to see him! He wants me to see an eye doc…. which is who I wanted to see first anywhooooo, but the regular doc felt I should see the brain doc first.  Jeesh… It would save so much time if they all just realized I was right and did what I suggested…………..

Was feeling poorly all day Fri…. why you ask?? probably because I didn’t get home till 2:30 am. Yikes! I’m too old for that crap! but it sure was fun…… hope the girls are up for it next week LOL!

Saturday — Garage Sale: YUCK = Money  YEAH!! lots of work, but it paid off

Sunday — Garage Sale: YUCK = Money YEAH!! Course I didn’t have to stay all day. DH owed me big… he was gone all day Friday, and Saturday he went golfing and surfing leaving moi to handle dreaded garage sale all by lonesome. The guilt paid off though, he came home cleaned kitchen, dining room, cooked and brought me a big Pepsi. Then today he sent me off shopping while he babysat the garage sale and the younger child —- ALRIGHT! That’s how to do a garage sale!

So now just catching up on email, relaxing and trying to prepare mentally for tomorrow. (doing brain sit-ups as I type). Looking forward to our trip to NM…..

PS Houdini escaped again!!! He came back looking rather frightened and panting heavily about an hour later. Today he tried to get out but I was ready, he got the business end of the squirt bottle several times today. He seems a little reluctant to go near the door now — Muaahhhaaahhha

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Robert Frost

Wow!! What a day! Not a physically exhausting one, but mentally ~~ smoke is coming out of my ears!! I spent the day applying for admission to a Masters program. I had to go through numerous boxes of paperwork looking for degrees, certifications, and transcripts — YUCK. Then the arduous process of actually filling out the application. MAN!! You’d think that as the school work was going to be so intensive, they would make the application process easier — JEESH! To top it all off, I had to update my resume’. Nothing spells fun like spending an hour or so updating your resume’  wooo-hooo.

The cat ended up spending the night outside. We found him a many times, but he was not about to be taken back alive!!   This morning when he fianlly came in after eating and drinking the bratty beast tried to escape again!   I’ve got his ticket now though… I got the water bottle out and am ready to squirt him down till he learns to avoid any open door! That will teach him!

Not much going on today. I took the lazy way out ….. decided not to work on much of anything.

Spoke to Deanna ~ friend from Tucson for several hours on both the Internet and the phone. I am really looking forward to my trip home — well New Mexico (it’s not home yet).

Nolan finally got the silver BMW running correctly and you could see the stress slide off him like water off a duck’s back. Whew!! I am really glad — he was displaying lots of stress and not a lot of his usual good natured self.

Right now I am listening to the raucous cleaning of the kitchen by the girls. Yikes……. what noise. They just opened the door and left it open and Houdini escaped again!!! DANG CAT!!! GROWL, HISS. Phhhtttt…….

Gotta go – try to catch the maniacal cat. <heavy sigh>