When I fall behind on work stuff, my tendency is to push life aside and throw myself into getting “caught up”.  I can’t stand the idea of letting people down or just barely making a deadline or meeting only the minimum requirements.
(Unless we’re talking about laundry.)
For the first time in forever, I went almost an [...]

I’ve been a little anxious about this upcoming weekend.
You see, here in central Florida it’s time for Avitaween – Avitable’s ginormous Halloween party where about 100 people, including about 30 bloggers who I happen to adore, gather in costumes for a night of fun and ridiculous behavior.
See? A completely rational reason to be anxious, [...]

On Sunday we – meaning me, Jared, Devin and Emma – set out for a day of fall festivities at a local pumpkin patch.  The temperatures  here in Florida were actually fall like, and it was the first family outing we would all be on together since before Hell Month.  I grabbed two camers to [...]

I actually missed the anniversary date.
That in itself is a sign of progress, I think.
August 10th, two days ago, marked two years since we moved to Florida.
Last year, I marked this date with a resignation and acceptance of homesickness.
This year, I spent the day working from home, my boss and best friend sitting on my [...]

The other day on twitter I informed the Internets that I was finally working through all of the pictures from my Dad’s visit to Florida a couple weeks ago.
Because that is the kind of interesting information I like to share with the world with modern technology.
And while you are mocking me for my mastery of [...]

.!.
“Mom, when are we going to change houses again?”
Emma doesn’t speak to me for the first half of our morning drive to daycare.  I think it takes her that long to get over being pissed about having to get up in the morning.  I can tell she’s over it when she suddenly launches into conversation.
“I [...]

“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!”
-Dr. Seuss
Now that Hilly has had a chance to tell you herself, it’s OK for me to talk about it here.
Hilly hasn’t been here for the last week just visiting.  She’s been checking out the area to decide if it’s a good place for her [...]

Sunday marked one year since we left our families behind in Iowa and moved to Florida.
If I’m being completely honest, that’s part of the reason I didn’t turn on the computer this weekend. I knew that in the computer was this blog, this place where I’ve documented every moment of this transition, this place [...]

“And your middle name is Lynn?”
“Um, no, it’s Marie, actually…” I rechecked the official documents the DMV site had told me to bring. Surely I was still capable of getting my middle name right.
“Oh, yes, I see. Sorry, that was your marriage certificate. His middle name is Lynn,” the woman with heavy [...]

YAY! Christmas Pictures!
Excuse me? What’s that?
What do you mean it’s been two weeks since Christmas? What is this jibber jabber about every other blogger in the world already having completed their “Christmas review”? What’s that you say? Looking at random pictures of someone else’s kids opening presents is like Blogger [...]

Hello?  *tap, tap*  Hello?
Is there anyone left?  I know I’ve abandoned you for… for… well it might as well be forever with the average attention span of a blogger.
I’m sorry.  I know.  I’ve been very, very bad and a select few of you will be allowed to punish me.  No, not you.  You, sit down. [...]